Since the beginning, man has struggled with the sin of selfish gain and self-preservation. Adam and Eve were deceived because of their self-centered desire to become like God. Man wants recognition and honor: man wants to be noticed and appreciated above others; man wants glory. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the word of God and submitted to these desires, their initial response was to protect themselves by hiding.
This attitude of self-promotion and self-protection is very dangerous; it creates partiality and division. It is a snare to performers and singers, including those in the Church. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” He reminds us that the example we should follow in doing so is Christ Jesus himself. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” (3:2-8).
As performers, it is very easy for us to get caught up in ourselves: to promote ourselves; to strive to win approval over others; to seek the glory for our efforts, our creativity, our time, our gifts. While we promote ourselves, we begin to serve man (i.e. a director, a producer, a worship leader), we cater to man’s approval as if he’s the one who decides where and how we use our gifts. We forget the One who gave us those gifts. He gave them so that we might serve Him by humbly serving His children. He gave us gifts so that He could use them to glorify Himself.
Give your gift back to God. Use it to honor Him. We become useless to Him when we don’t. Our worth comes not from our gifts, but from the One who gave them to us. When we forget this, we start to strive for our own honor, our own recognition, our own advancement and glory. We forget about serving others. We forget about the amazing gifts He has given those around us. We forget that by bringing groups of talented people together into one place, God has created a powerhouse for the advancement of His kingdom.
He has a purpose and use for each one of us and all that we have to offer. Rest. Wait patiently. Encourage each other. Appreciate each other, but remember that every gift comes from the hand of God, the Father. Be willing to take the back seat to someone else. God is using them. He is using you too and He will keep using you as long as you show faithfulness in administering the gifts He has so graciously blessed us with in you.
