A
little girl was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. She replied, “Famous!”
Why are so many people obsessed with fame? Our society equates fame with
significance. The more famous you are, the more significant you are in others’
eyes. And if you are not famous, then try to be friends with someone who is
famous so you can tell others, “I’m friends with (fill in name).”
What
is fame? It’s how many people know you. It is name recognition. If many people
know your name, you’re famous. We live in a time like never before where anyone
can become “famous” if their YouTube video goes viral or if they have thousands
of Facebook friends or Twitter followers. There’s nothing wrong with those
things, but it is wrong if you are
deriving your self-esteem from them. The fact is, the most admired actor is
worth the same as a homeless man sleeping in a cardboard box. “The rich and the
poor have a common bond; the Lord is the maker of them all” (Proverbs 22:2).
One
celebrity said when no one knew him, he desperately wanted to become famous so
the paparazzi would take his picture for magazines. But after he gained fame,
he lost something he couldn’t get back—his privacy. He couldn’t go anywhere
without someone asking for his autograph or snapping his picture. He found
himself hiding from the paparazzi so they wouldn’t take his picture. The
magazine articles about him contained slanderous gossip because that’s what
sells. After he achieved his goal of being famous, he discovered his fame wasn’t
a blessing but was actually a curse.
God
isn’t interested in us being famous in
the world’s eyes, but in us being
faithful in His eyes. To do this, we must change the audiences we want to
please. Instead of living to please others, live to please the Lord who is always
watching. “Therefore we have our ambition…to be pleasing to Him. He died for
all that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who
died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Cor. 5:9,15). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
Two Important Books
You Need to Read:
Slaying Your Giants shows how to conquer the 20 invisible giants (attitudes)
trying to destroy you.
Amazon.com customer review: “Slaying your Giants is by far the best book I have ever read for
a Bible Study class. No matter what issues you are facing—fear, temptation,
worry, anger… the true stories are uplifting, humorous and very rewarding.”
The Sure Cure for Worry proves God is in control and can be trusted to handle the problems
you are worried about.
Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
