“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”
-Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
What does it mean to deny yourself? I think denying yourself means being willing to give up your life desires and ambitions. What are ambitions and aren’t they good? 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-11 NIV says, “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other…. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…” This is a very different picture of ambition than what the world paints for us. The world portrays ambition as aggressively pursuing riches, power, and recognition. It almost justifies chasing after earthly ambitions or relentlessly climbing the corporate latter: not stopping until you have the best job, the best house, the best car, the best of everything, and all of the fame and admiration from the those around us. But, God didn’t intend it to be that way. God gave us gifts and talents to bring Him glory by pleasing Him and serving others. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NASB says, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” God gave us passion and drive to use our talents for His glory, not just for our own gain. Of course we need to work to provide for ourselves and our families, but He doesn’t want us to become so caught up in our talents and our abilities, that we fail to remember where they came from. This reminds me of walking on a tightrope. We need to be ambitious, but not so ambitious that our goals, jobs, accomplishments, and fame become more important to us than serving God and others. But, I do understand that sometimes humans fall into the trap of using their gifts and talents to gain recognition, approval, and/or attention from others. And in these cases, if others cease to give us that attention, we end up feeling empty, unappreciated, unsatisfied, insecure, and/or angry. But, we never should have been relying on other people’s approval in the first place (we were mistaken into seeking human approval over God’s approval).
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”- Galatians 1:10 NIV
Furthermore, Philippians 2:3 NIV says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” We must strive to use our work and ministries as an opportunity to bring glory to God and improve the well being of other’s lives.
“My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise—Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame”
-Hillsong United
Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to use Your gifts and talents to bring You glory. Please help us not to use your gifts solely to receive recognition, praise, and approval from others. Help us to remember, that You gave us unique gifts and talents to serve You, and not solely for our own gain. Amen.
