One of the underlying visions of starting Shine & Soar was to inspire our readers to soar above mediocrity. But what does that look like exactly? Is that simply being a young business owner? Making a great name for yourself? Or being a fantastic Christian? Is it about your public reputation or your character?
I feel that we're evaluating our greatness level simply in the amount of labels we apply to ourselves. Is your greatness all caught up in having the label "young entrepreneur" because that makes you one in a thousand? But how do you run your business? Do you pour into your clients lives and build deep relationships with them or do you do business with them and forget about them?
Greatness isn't always found in what we do, but how we do it. I just watched The Iron Lady this past weekend and was smacked in the face by this quote:
"It used to be about trying to do something. Now it's about trying to be someone." // Margaret Thatcher
How true is that? We're caught up in the pursuit of having a great name...because we want influence. But do you know that fame is not the same as influence? But how about if building your influence meant listening to God's voice and not your friend's voices? Fame means being widely known, influence means being able to change the opinions and actions of others. You could do the latter with 20 Instagram followers. Kim Kardashian is widely famous but not as widely influential, and I'm sure most of our parents are more influential than they are famous.
But back to the quote by Margaret Thatcher:
Are you trying to be a great photographer or take photographs for people that will last lifetimes?
Are you leading because people will look up to you or because you’ve got changes that you know need to be made & you’ve got the vision for it? Are you trying to be an Instagram darling or a curator of beauty to brighten people's days?
Popularity vs Impact.
I don't want all of you to end reading this and believe that I think all of you are doing this for popularity and are shallow. No, no. I know many of us have mixed motives and just need a check up here and there. Well here is your checkup, and let me tell you that I need it just as much as you!
Back to defining what greatness is in God's eye. Here is what I've compiled on what I believe He says it is in scripture. Seek out these verses and put them at the forefront of your mind so you can be guided to intentionally pursuing these things.
-Having a deep intimate relationship with God (Luke 10:27)
-Doing what God calls you to do (Romans 12:4, 2 Peter 1:10)
-Serving others selflessly (Mark 10:44-45)
-Using your influence to bring glory to Him (Matthew 5:14-16)
-Having & building an excellent character (Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Timothy 4:12-13)
-Going through trials with endurance & joy (James 1:12, James 1:2-3)
Greatness won't always be flashy, come with applause, or be guaranteed to be viewed as a worldly success. But it will be for you an eternal weight of glory.
"And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." // Mark 9:35
Thank you so, so much for this. It's definitely what I needed to read right now.
ReplyDeleteYey! So SO grateful it had the right timing for you :)
DeleteMan, this is so so good. Thank you so much for sharing this.
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