It’s Easy to Make Headlines

There’s a couple pieces of the Bible I wish I could get rid of:

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3)

“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

Life would sure be easier if God encouraged me to brag about all my little achievements.

Just last week Rose came home from a long day of work and I immediately rattled off all the things I did around the house, hoping she might be impressed. “Hey Rosie, I mowed the lawn, raked the leaves, did the dishes, swept the floor, vacuumed…I deserve a husband raise.” All this was done as a sort of pat myself on the back, hoping my wife would also be amazed at my amazingness.

I find it easier to draw attention to myself than trying to convince myself I’ve done nothing. I prefer to convince my left hand how much my right hand has done, and then I let plenty of other people know how much my hands have done. You have  an ego to feed too, right?

Why can’t Christianity just fit nicely within my preferred lifestyle? Why can’t following Jesus make much of me rather than denying myself? These are the questions I often fight against.

In our social media driven society, making much of yourself is a never-ending allure.

Share about a great achievement on Facebook.

Post a self-portrait on Instagram so others can see the new outfit you’re rolling with and tell you how great you look.

Tweet about all the amazing people you get to hang out with everyday.

It’s all a “feed me” mentality where you get built up, hiding your lack of confidence in who you are.

It’s the people who don’t share about themselves that I trust the most, why do I ignore that when it comes to my own life? Probably because I have a hard time not being made much of. Frankly life is just more enjoyable when the world revolves and me and the things I have going on.

The truth is, following Christ is about living a hidden life. The kind of life where you go unnoticed. A life where you steward well what has been placed before you. All this without accolades or recognition. All this without your name shining in bright lights.

It’s easy to make headlines, it’s much harder to deny yourself.

Following Christ is the challenge of doing the little things well. It’s a challenge of daily giving up your own agenda so you can take up His.

Make it a practice to first follow Christ behind closed doors.

It will immediately change your engagement with life after the door has been opened.

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