F4S: Fame or Good Influence?

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Fame or Good Influence?

"If I only was someone with 'a name,' then I could make a difference in this world for God."

Fact: Believer, you are indeed someone who has a name called to serve thee Someone ..unless ur parents basically had a brain-lapse and just forgot.

You know that fame and a big name doesn't always translate into good influence for others. Most of the time it would seem like fame down here on earth is there because the famous person has been a horrible influence on others. You know how the world loves it's own, but God loves His children!

Jesus said to His followers, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (Jn. 15:19).

There are countless people in Hollywood that have fame and "a name" today, but little or no good influence actually comes from their lives, while in Christ you can choose to let the Holy Spirit rightly influence many people around you ..through your clean conversation, pure Message, personal testimony, good attitude, helpful deeds and godly lifestyle of holiness!

"Do you think you can help me to become extremely influential?"

A question some Christians (and others) like to ask. Ever heard anything like that question?

Answer: "Why do you desire this?"

Response from the one who asked: "I just want lots of people to know who I am."

What about forgetting that desire.. and simply become concerned that people around you know Jesus Christ and what He has done for them ..you know, while you still have some time to witness to them, believer?

"Huh, why?"

Answer: Because them remembering you and feeling good about you.. that doesn't really matter in the long run.

But, but, but... "Well, I'd be so successful and popular if lots of people just knew who I was."

Would you really be successful? After whose definition of success ..the world's definition? Are you really sure you'd be successful?

Question: "What would you do to specifically impact the people in the world if all these folk knew who you were? Think about it."

His answer: "Well, I'm not so sure, but does that even matter?"

Reply: "I don't think you really desire to have good influence upon others at all. You merely lust after raw fame and all that come with it."

Big smile slowly emerges on his face: "Well then, please can you help me become famous just the same?"

Why ask me, I ain't famous nor give a flip about becoming that way. Just look at what happens to so many who have fame without any desire to serve the Lord or others.. in their hearts? 

People simply weren't designed to receive worship from other people and yet so many do and can't handle the results of all that. God alone is to be worshipped on his terms, not ours.  

Good influence – it ain't really about how many folks know you, adore you, or hear and like what you have to say (God's opinion found in His unchanging Word matters most, not our opinions). It's really more about your walk and your witness for Jesus Christ, believer and your capacity in Him to positively impact the decisions, the thoughts, the actions and the opinions of other people. 

We are actually here to help them worship Him not us, to follow Him not us. We seek to use our gifts and the Scriptures to equip other believers and to win the lost people around us to Christ ...not just give out entertainment or more information in this information age, so that we can hear applause from people. Fame is so fleeting if you think about it.

The ungodly famous, yes those outside of Christ, will soon be forgotten, but God's Word will last forever.

The Psalmist declared, "Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations" (Ps. 135:13).