You probably didn’t wake up today, hoping to waste your life.
It’s not likely that being boring, replaceable, and mediocre were on your to-do list.
You care about your influence. But has it become an idol to you?
I’ve always wanted to make a difference. I go so far as to worry and stress over it. I want my ministry to expand, my work to be recognized, my life to make a mark.
I don’t know if it’s marriage, my age, or the fact that no one is making decisions for me, but now more than ever, I feel a desire to make my life count for something.
What about you?
I fear we can easily lose our way. Once we gain a certain level of influence, we want more. We’re never satisfied. We crave success and more success. All for what?
Seeking First My Kingdom?
What about Matthew 6:33?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Is influence part of the “all these things” this verse talks about?
Are we supposed to seek greater influence or simply seek the kingdom and righteousness of God?
Is our desire for influence really just an obsession with our own name – the spread of our fame?
What do you want people to remember? Your name or the cause you gave your life for?
We get so caught up in extending our platform, expanding our influence, and raising our profile that we forget about seeking first the kingdom of God.
Stop Worrying About Your Influence
Here’s the bottom line: don’t worry about your influence. Your influence will come as you focus on doing work that matters.
You know what I’ve noticed? Those who become obsessed with their influence quit a lot sooner than those who simply love their work.
- Are you a blogger? Fall in love with writing, not just with the promotion of your posts.
- Are you a songwriter? Fall in love with your songs and performing, not in your album sales.
- Are you a worship leader? Fall in love with Jesus, not just your presentation of worship songs.
When we fall in love with our influence, we lose our edge. We water down our art.
I’m learning to fall in love with my cause again. Yes, I want to people to experience my art. I want it to spread. But the desire for influence is like a drug I can’t quit. It’s a habit I can’t break.
So I’m choosing not to worry about it. I’m focusing on investing my life in the greatest cause – to spend my life seeking first the Kingdom of God.
Question: How do we pursue influence without worshiping it? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I am struggling with this right now.
Last night was my final sermon before students (on a regular basis anyways).
The guy I have invested in for the last two years is now the student pastor as I move into a new role.
I love teaching. I LOVE teaching. Words cant describe what I feel when I teach. I know it’s the Holy Spirit.
But I have had doubts because I want to be up there influencing people. I have to actively remind myself that my new role has the opportunity to influence far more people than that of being the student pastor. But I have to remind myself to concentrate on the purpose of my role:
God has given me the gift of pastoring environments and raising up leaders. When I seek to bring Him glory by giving it everything I have in order that families are reached with the Gospel, then influence happens. The influence of the Holy Spirit that matters.
Is your new role at the same church?
Love your passion, Chris!
thanks dave! love your passion as well! inspiring!
new role is at the same church. pretty pumped about it. a little overwhelmed, but pumped!
Makes me think of a verse I’ve been chewing on for awhile.
2 Corinthians 8:18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
Famous…but nameless. Scripture doesn’t tell us who he is. Just that he is famous for preaching the gospel. Would I be content (content?! I oughta be overjoyed!) to be so known?
“Famous…but nameless.”
Wow…that is so sobering…
I know, right? I figure there’s a great set of song lyrics waiting to come outta that hook….the irony being that then my name would be attached to them…. AAAIIIGH!! It’s like spiritual whack-a-mole!!!!
Now that’s an idea – releasing an album of worship songs for the church…with no name attached to them. You got me thinking 🙂
Heh. I had a buddy write two songs last night because I “got his brain going”. Apparently it’s part of my job. 😉 I know one thing the concept is doing to me is making me quit “guarding” my ideas. I resisted even sharing that verse because “But LORD! That song idea is MINE!” Um. No. It’s not mine. It’s HIS. So there it is out there….because the important thing isn’t whose name is on it, eh? But oh man…. it’s like Eustace getting the layers of dragon taken off. Sometimes it STINGS! ;D
Oohh…that is deep! What a great insight. Will I be famous for preaching the Gospel or famous for promoting myself? Convicting.
I’ve never noticed that in this verse before. This is the best thing I’ve read all week. Thanks, Jennifer.
I’ll say this is something I needed to hear first thing this morning. As I begin to venture down this road of blogging, it’s easy to get caught up in things like what to do, what not to do, how should it look, and how many people are reading it. This is a needed gut check from the very beginning. I will say, I have learned quite a few things from you recently as far as promoting blogs and getting them viewed. But, it is a good reminder that Jesus is first. You said that “I’m focusing on investing my life in the greatest cause – to spend my life seeking first the Kingdom of God.” I’m kind of a metal head, but it reminded me of an interview I read a while back. Bassist JR Bermuda of Sleeping Giant said something amazing that I want to put here.
The interviewer asked him about some things that he can’t not share and one response was: “Finally, and most importantly- Waste your life on Jesus. Go in the room, and lock the door. Get alone and spend hours loving him. There is no greater activity in the world. I promise you.”
I love the heart of some of these metal bands. It’s a really great little article, and if you want to check it out it’s at http://www.hopecore.com/content/2011/07/sleeping-giant-%E2%80%9Cworship-is-not-music%E2%80%9D/.
Sorry for such a long response, but was something I needed to hear this morning!
That’s awesome bro. When did you start your blog?
Technically, it looks like August 16, 2010. But, I work full-time, go to school, and volunteer at our church quite a bit. So finding time to blog is sometimes difficult for me. I would like to post at least 2 times a month, preferrably at least once a week. Once a day is a little far fetched at this point. For the past month or so I wanted to start taking it a little more seriously and I’ve read a lot of great tips on your blog as well as other blogs you recommend thru twitter. Like, yesterday, I read a blog of yours that mentioned Google Reader. So I checked it out and it was exactly what I need to keep up with all the blogs I’ve started following. I will say one thing I love about your blogs is that you foster an environment of discussion really really well. It helps that you comment back haha! (Oh, I just realized I’ve been blogging just over a year now. Thanks for making me see that haha!)
I have one question, how do you get your topics for blogs? I’m sure inspiration comes from everywhere, so as you get ideas do you jot them down and keep an idea bank so to speak or what? Because sometimes something will happen or I will read something and be like, ‘that would make a great blog topic’, and then I will forget or not write it down.
Jason, I use Evernote to capture all my ideas. If I’m driving, I’ll record a voice note. If I’m at my computer I’ll draft a post on my desktop. Sometimes I’ll take a picture of something that inspires me.
Also, check out this post I wrote: https://www.davidsantistevan.com/2011/06/blog-post-ideas/
It’s always tough David…You know.
It’s in our human fallen nature to want the glory for ourselves…we seek our agenda before the kingdoms…
it’s a war that rages and if we can aknowledge that this fight is going on in us.(the spirit and flesh) We realize that The Holy Spirit is always wining! it’s part of the new creation in us! before we didn’t have this Holy Spirit fighting for us…now we do!!!! Let him take control…it will show us how to seek the kingdom first…
Do you preach? If not, I think you should 🙂
Yes I do! LOL…i teach 13-18 year olds and occasionally to college students…
I love it…it’s another passion for me…
student pastors unite!!!!!!
oh, wait…
not a student pastor anymore 🙁
A good gut check for me (originally pointed out to me by my wife), is to gauge my first response after playing a concert or leading in a service… if the things I am focused on are numbers (or lack of), response, and attention then my focus is off. When my focus is turned outward, whether to God’s movement or the people I got to interact with, then I am in a much better place.
Christopher, that is an awesome gauge. I try and have quiet time with God AFTER ministry as well as BEFORE. It keeps me focused on what it’s all about, you know?
This is something I struggle with at times – the crave for success. But your absolutely right: in our quest for this, we can easily forget to seek His Kingdom first.
That was a main reason I started myoneresolution.com. I wanted to show everyone that the real way to success is by making the only resolution that matters: seeking Him.
Great post!
You definitely can’t ignore influence – as Christians we’re called to be an influence. But if it’s something we’re trying to pursue, we’re doing it wrong. Influence should be a natural byproduct of our calling, don’t you think?
I think I agree. As worshipers we have a heightened visibility that others don’t. Our focus should be Jesus and as He molds us, it should have a rippling effect to those around us. It would be like the Holy Spirit using HIS influence through us while we set OURS aside, and it just happens in this seamless flow of walking with Christ daily. We would be the wineskins or those jars of clay that holds the answer that the world needs. So umm, yeah, I agree.
In February of this year, I was challenged by James Bradford, our General Secretary, at a Minister’s Retreat, that if I will take care of the depth of my intimacy with God, then He will take care of the breadth of my influence. So my focus has become my intimacy with Jesus… It is now a life theme for me…
“Fall in love with Jesus, not just your presentation of worship songs” I don’t think it applies to just worship leaders/pastors, but the members of the team as well!
I was helping my youth group worship team practice one of their new songs, and a few of the members were wondering why I sounded so hyped when singing “Nothing is Impossible” by Planetshakers. I couldn’t think of a real good answer, but I just told em that I’m singing for God and about Him to the world! If this was twitter, I’d say #perspective ;p
Ha! Love it. I find it interesting that they were confused by your hype. This is worship! Thanks for sharing, Ben.