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There is an inborn drive in us to want to be distinctive, to be competitive, and to be lavishly admired. Where do we get that? We get that from school. We get that from the culture of professionalism. We get that from the culture of ascending our career ladder as high as we can, as soon as we can. To be distinctive, to be outstanding, to be multi-awarded, to be recognized, to be lavishly admired—these have become our aspirations.
The Lord teaches us that while our desires to be admired, to be distinctive, and to be outstanding are natural, St. Paul tells us that it does not really matter. He professes that it did not matter if the credit was given to Apollos, to him, or to any other person. What should truly matter is that God is glorified in what we do. In the Gospel, after healing, preaching, and in the process gathering a horde of admirers, Jesus does not entertain the “fans.” Instead, He withdraws to a deserted place, all by Himself, in the presence of God, to pray.
If there is a natural drive in us, we might have imbibed it from professionalism and school competition. We want to be outstanding all the time. The journey of Christianity is not toward distinction. The journey of Christianity is not toward admiration. The journey of Christianity is not for us to be popular or outstanding. The journey of Christianity is a step-by-step process toward the extinction of our personality so that, in the end, it is Christ who takes over us.
LET GLAMOUR GO
1 Cor. 2:1
Love Like Jesus
