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November 10, 2020

Making a Name for Myself

November 10, 2020 by JODIE PINE PURPOSED Purpose
Making a Name for Myself
"Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth."
Genesis 11:1-9
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. ‘I will make you into a great nation,
 and I will bless you;
 I will make your name great,
 and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,
 and whoever curses you I will curse;
 and all peoples on earth
 will be blessed through you.’”
Genesis 12:1-3

Honor. Importance. Recognition.


During an extended time alone yesterday, I unpacked my ideas of success and discovered that those three words are integral with how successful I feel.


I scribbled this question in my journal, “Whose kingdom am I building?”


Am I making a name for myself? Or making a name for God?


Am I like my ancestors who labored on the Tower of Babel, trying to make themselves known, make themselves great, make themselves invincible. Or am I like Abraham, of whom God said:


"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3


Clearly I want to be like Abraham, as I'm sure you do, too: a humble receiver of God's great blessings. Who sets out to serve God overseas with the expressed motivation of being a narcissistic blessing-chaser like the Babel builders? But reading these two parallel passages challenges me to think about the way I actually live. Am I promoting myself while only pretending to walk in faith?


How can I evaluate how humble I really am and where my heart is?


Yesterday, God shed light on my identity in Him and on the importance of abiding, of clinging to the Vine (John 15:1-8), of being sustained by the Source of Life. Apart from Him, I can truly accomplish nothing. Nothing of any worth or value. He will be about the business of pruning, whether or not I give Him permission, but I get to choose how I respond. Let's send my honor, recognition, and importance to the fire, where they belong.


My desired definition of success includes words like: contentment, peace, anonymity, smallness, faithfulness, internal security, eternal identity, all is grace, You are enough.


And as I shift my focus to the One who deserves to be on the Throne, I long to be still. To cease striving. To let go of the need to grasp or create an identity that's separate from who I am as the Beloved.


May my life be all about making His name great.

Closing Prayer
Lord, I'm Yours. Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I realize I'm not here on earth to do my own thing, or to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory. I'm not here to indulge my desires, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I'm somebody important, or to promote myself. I'm not here to be relevant or successful by human standards. I'm here to please You. (Excerpt from Your Most Basic Act of Worship from 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers)
Resources
Article: My Message Is About Him by Jodie Pine This is a blog post about a section from Max Lucado's book, It's Not About Me.
Devotional: 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers This is a wonderful devotional that puts God and self in the right places.
Question for Reflection

Whose kingdom are you building?

Comments
Jodie Pine
November 10, 2020

Living on financial support is challenging in many ways, and it has felt to me at times like newsletters need to be written to "sell ourselves" or to prove that what we are doing is worthy of donors' support. It can be weary, trying to be compelling and convincing. Though, when I have seen the letters more as an opportunity to update our supporters with what God has done and as a way for Him to receive glory, then the pressure dissolves. Focusing on His Kingdom and the small role He has given us to play, is a testimony worth sharing because it isn't about "making a name for ourselves," but about making His name great.