Who Is It About?

Today, I have attended two different churches.  The first was as a guest of a co-worker because his church was having “bring a co-worker to church day.”  The second was my home church.  What was amazing about today is the message at both churches was essentially the same:  It’s not about me – it’s about God.

In the first service, we read from the book of Ruth.  This is one of my favorite books in the Bible because it is a love story about the love of family and the romantic love of a man and woman. Pastor Kelly pointed out how Naomi and Ruth had experienced great tragedy, but God had brought them through it by working out all the details so Boaz would marry Ruth and be her kinsmen-redeemer.

As Pastor Kelley spoke, he pointed out several very important things I, as a Christian, should remember.  We act as if everything that happens to us and for us is about us.  But it’s not.  It’s about God.  It’s so God’s name can be made famous.  If I’ve been through something and someone else thinks the only way I could have gotten through was because of a higher power, then I’ve been used by God.  If something good happens to me, do I give God the credit or do I act as if I made it happen.  We must recognize people are watching us to see if we think it’s all about us.  

The pastor pointed out God might be using me now.  He uses His people to provoke interest about Him in other people and his example was how even the unbelieving enemies of Israel would say, “God must be on their side.”  Friend and foe alike are always watching to see if I'm living the way a Christian should live.

In my home church, we read John 3:22-36 which is about John the Baptist.  The message was about becoming less so God could increase.  Our wonderful pastor pointed out “It’s not about us.”  Okay Lord, you have my attention now.

In John 3:30, John the Baptist says, “He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less.”  In the words of Pastor Wyman, “It’s a countercultural message.”  Our society makes us think it’s about us, but it’s not.  It’s always been about God and it always will be. 

What’s my take away from the multiple messages on making it about God and not about me?  I need to work in this area.  I’m much better than I used to be, but I’m sure I live at least 60 percent of my time thinking it’s about me.  Why is this happening to me?  Why isn’t this happening to me?  Why can’t I have the things I desire?  Me…me…me, when it should be you…you…you, Lord.  

Wyman said we have to love God more than we love ourselves.  Then we have to love family more than we love ourselves.  And, finally we have to love others more than we love ourselves. We have to be less so God can be more, and people are watching us to see if this God we profess to love and adore really is most important in our lives.  It's an awesome responsibility, but an incredible privilege too.