Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything

by Anonymous

And everything we have between now and then—our stuff, our relationships, and our influence—is a gift from God. “For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?” (1 Cor. 4:7). In other words, you and I are no different from anyone else. Really.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer points out, “Because the Christian can no longer fancy that he is wise, he will also have no high opinion of his own schemes and plans. He will know that it is good for his own will to be broken.”[xlv]

The obvious danger in these rating games is that our purpose gets muddled in the competition. Instead of working together for a common goal (God’s glory), we either get all high and mighty (when we think we achieve those coveted five stars) or wallow in self-pity and doubt (when we can’t seem to get past 2.5).

Since we’ll be held accountable for only those resources God has given us to invest—not what He has given others—our purpose is not to get a five-star rating in our niche but to become all that God has asked us to become in His kingdom (see Luke 19:11–27). Which might be, in traditional ways, less than we are now.

Embracing the spotlight with an obscurity of heart allows us to baffle the world with a counterintuitive, God-focused, self-denying, humble fame.

The third key to avoiding the Saul Syndrome is to know and remember your limits. Contrary to how you might feel, you do in fact have physical, intellectual, emotional, and moral breaking points.

To avoid burnout and maximize your ability to be a servant-leader, here are four phrases to memorize: I don’t know everything.

I have limited time and energy.

I’m not morally invincible.

I’m not irreplaceable.

“For [His] thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not [His] ways” (Isa. 55:8). Even if we never know God’s reasoning, we can trust that He is acting in His best interest and ours when He causes the curtain to close on even our best efforts.

“Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”

How will you spend the seconds, hours, days, and years you have left? Will you waste your time loving the things of this world, worrying about your star rating, and focusing on your success? Or will you invest the remainder of your life “seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers”? Will you take on the disposition of Christ, submitting to God’s will, loving justice and mercy, serving selflessly and loving fully? Will you walk worthy of the glorious gospel—even if no one ever knows your name?