In the news this morning the story of another “influencer” dying while taking the ultimate selfie was reported. In an effort to garner more attention, she took too big a risk and lost everything. Many people are desperate to get attention and be famous.
The lure of celebrity is strong and the avenues to gain attention are numerous. All you have to do is post some amazing photos, outlandish opinion, clever video or wild stunt that attracts enough attention to make you feel famous. The pull of celebrity causes people to take great risks physically, emotionally and socially. But failure to gather enough followers often leads to depression and disgrace.
Jesus chose another route entirely. Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Jesus chose the path of humility and servant hood. Yet, even today He is more well known than all the celebrities of the world put together. The next two verses in Philippians give us the truth of the impact of His humility and obedience: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Humility leads to exaltation in God’s hands. We are called to submit to God and humbly serve others, as Jesus did. Trying to exalt yourself leads to destruction.
Reluctant Retiree 