"Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause"
This quote comes from the song "Hosanna." It was playing on the radio this morning and it got me thinking. What does it really mean to be "everything I am" for God's kingdom? When we as Christians are called to live for Christ and seek Him in everything we do, does it really mean "everything?" If we are to take the teachings of Jesus literally, then the answer is yes. Everything we do from brushing our teeth and eating a meal, to doing our jobs and interacting with people needs to glorify God.
"Everything I am," only makes sense because He created us and therefore we are not our own anyway. The Bible says we were created in His image for His Glory. If God created us, gave us out talents and provides all we have, shouldn't we give Him the credit and thank Him all the time? Shouldn't we seek to glorify Him in our work, relationships and when we are alone? I would assume that anyone reading this would be saying yes at this point, but do you really believe it? I mean do we really want to surrender all we have and all we are to the cause of Christ? I have dreams and goal that may not align with the teachings of Christ, does that mean I need to surrender those as well? As Christ followers that is exactly what we are to do.
It is easy to get caught up in the glamour of the entertainment industry. When I first started out in the entertainment business I thought that the only way to be considered successful or creditable was to win that award. The affirmation of my piers is what seemed to matter the most. In confession, this feeling only left me recently as life lessons have taught me. It is only human to seek praise from those around you. In Hollywood it can seem like that is the only thing that matters. Only when we truly seek Him (Matthew 6:33 ) will we be satisfied. This is a good lesson to learn early in your career, in whatever field, and so important in our walk with Christ and our witness.
In Hollywood, the award show season has come and gone. Some people won and some lost. Some did not even get nominated. You hear celebrities give thanks to God in their expectance speeches but it often comes off really shallow. If they truly believed in God and that He deserves the glory for all things, then why take the time to thank anyone else. To take it further, let's look at the content of the work you are being recognized for. Does it glorify God? When people see your film do they see God? If they do not, then how can you think God is pleased with the way you are using the talents He gave you?
Henri Nouwen said, "The dark voices of my surrounding world try to persuade me that I am no good and that I can only become good by earning my goodness through "making it" up the ladder of success." As Christians we know that this is false. The only opinion that really matters is that or our Lord and Savior. We should all strive to glorify Him in all that we do that is seen by others and that which is not. We do not need to hear the praise of others but strive to hear God say to us "‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" - Matthew 25:21
It would be good to reflect on this as we continue in all our pursuit
