Out of the spotlight
I am a football fan, yet I struggle at times with some of the antics of players. I am opposed to celebrations of emotion after a great play, but many times the over-the-top reactions of players just to get attention are way too much. There was a recent Ohio State player whose celebrations were simply too much. For example, on a pass thrown way over the head of an intended receiver, he (a defensive back) acted as if this was the greatest defensive play of all time. He was umping up and down, pointing and generally just drawing attention to himself. And in actuality, the ball was uncatchable.
I remember hearing coaches in the past make statements like, “Act like you’ve been there.” So many times watching games as this young man played for Ohio State, I would utter those words as he gyrated after a play. I mean, football is a team sport. And it was more than likely the pressure from the defensive line that caused the errant pass, not his coverage of the receiver.
I think the same thing could easily apply to us in the church and our walk with the Lord. We are part of a team to represent, praise, serve and glorify the Lord. Yet there are times we act, speak and direct attention towards ourselves that is really reserved for God. He doesn’t need our actions, but He deserves them and He should not have to share the spotlight with us. Our passage on Sunday says that when we perform acts of devotion or righteousness, it should be done on our part without plans or actions that draw attention for our worthiness, but instead the One who we are serving.
I have served with many over the years that I have had to remind them to “take your hands off the spotlight and stop directing it at yourself.” It is not wrong for others to point us out, but when our attitude, motive and purpose is to swing the spotlight of our service to God from the God we serve to those ourselves who are serving, we have begun to look through the wrong end of the telescope. Instead of drawing closer to God, we have shrunk our world until it is “us” at the center of the spotlight.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
