John3:30 He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease. AMP
THE DESIRE TO BE FAMOUS
Years back, I listened to a preacher on t.v.where he taught ministers in a meeting. He spoke about the revelation he had about the score card of churches in his country. According to him, in that revelation, God showed him churches in his country who were doing his will and running ministry according to pattern. He didn't know those churches because they weren't popular. He was sincere enough to tell us that his church was not among the churches God commended. He was surprised that the churches that were popular with men and had wide network of branches weren't popular in heaven for being at the centre of God's will. In all, I picked a lesson from that story. Popularity with men is not equal to success in God's sight. With the pursuit of wealth comes the desire for fame as well.
Some even pray for fame and they sweat it out just to be known by men. To them, success is when you become a household name. Just think about the things that people do to be famous with men. A talented gospel singer may feel he doesn't have the publicity he desires so he may just switch to singing songs that aren't glorifying to God, increase fan base and attract endorsement. Those that want fame are always putting themselves on the spot where they can be noticed. If a preacher is consumed by the lust for fame, his church and programme publicity will point men to him and not Christ. That inordinate desire for fame is the reason why some call themselves by bogus titles and appellations alien to Christ. John(3:30) said, "...This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines", MSG. While some are concerned about souls of men, they're concerned about their "fan base" and the number of likes and followers on social media. They live to please their fans and perform to maintain the fame while neglecting the God. Their concern is not about what God says.
I think the Laodicean church had some measure of fame in their time but God's score card on them showed they failed him: "You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked", Rev 3:17 NLT. What a shame! Now that the world knows you and they deem you successful because you've become a household name, what is God saying about you? True success begins the day your pursuit is channeled towards fulfilling God's will for your life.
Father, I receive the grace to fine tune my pursuit towards eternal things in Jesus name. Amen