The Monday Memo from John Stanko

891: Self-Promotion 2

We are in the midst of a series titled "Put Me In, Coach," in which we are looking at the place and propriety of being more proactive as we engage in ministry and purpose opportunities. Rather than waiting on the Lord, this philosophy assumes that God is waiting for us to decide where and how we want to be involved in serving the Lord and others. Last week, we started a sub-series within the Put Me In, Coach theme. The basic issue before us is this: What is self-promotion and is it inappropriate to engage in it?

YOUR LIGHT

My thought for this week is found in Matthew 5:14-16, where it says to do your deeds so others can see:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Later in the same sermon, Jesus gave this warning:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, . . ." (Matthew 6:1-2).

Here we have an important distinction. We are not to parade our righteous acts, such as giving alms, which will glorify self but we are to show forth our good deeds that will glorify God. Since God has given you your gifts and purpose that will enable you to do your good deeds, then I conclude that, in most cases, it is permissible to let people know what you are doing and what you can do when God enables and empowers you to do it.

SERVICE

What's more, if God has given you gifts and a purpose and those are to be used to help others, then isn't letting people know what you can to serve them consistent with letting your light shine as we read above? First Peter 4:10 states, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." I can organize and do it quite well since God helps me do it. Am I permitted to say, "I have an organizational gift that is well developed; how can I help you?" It seems that adding the piece that my good deeds are to serve others as well as to glorify God makes self-promotion more acceptable and palatable than when it is simply to show off what I can do.

I hope you will "weigh in' this week and add to our discussion. Furthermore, I pray you will read what is being written so that you can develop your own personal philosophy that will enable you to comfortably promote what God has put into and done in your life so that others can benefit and grow. Thank you, and have a blessed week!

    Please respond to this post on the site where it is posted and let's keep the dialogue going.

890: Self-Promotion

Greetings from Kenya. This week, let's continue our discussion around the them "Put Me In, Coach," a look at the concept of putting yourself forward as ready, willing, and able to fulfill your purpose and express your gifts. I regularly have discussions with people concerned about writing a book or stepping out into other purpose work because they may be promoting themselves rather than the Lord. They are worried (yes, worried is the correct word) they will get ahead of the Lord, or somehow do something that brings glory to self instead of to God glory. Those are legitimate concerns, but are all based and rooted in fear, and we know that God has not given us a spirit of fear.

About ten years ago, I did a series title "Self Promotion," so I thought it would be good to revisit that topic in light of the concerns that my friends have recently raised, which are consistent with the "Put Me In, Coach" discussion. It's an issue I have pondered for a long time, since I have been labeled as self-promoting from time to time, so I am eager to share my thoughts with you. I will need your help as we examine this issue, however, and I ask you to respond with your own perspective (whether you agree or disagree) once you have read what I have to say. We will look at this topic over the next four weeks.

CONCEIT    

The main concern with self-promotion is best summarized in Philippians 2:3, where Paul wrote: ^"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Many conclude talking about yourself in almost any situation is wrong or at least improper, and ambition is also considered to be in bad taste or downright evil. Are these interpretations correct?

Here are some thoughts off the top of my head for this week's discussion.

1. When Paul wrote his letters, he clearly identified himself as an apostle.
2. David approached Goliath and declared what he was going to do to the giant in no uncertain terms.
3. Jesus made many claims, although sometimes veiled to hide them from unbelievers, concerning who He was and what He had come to do.

Let's examine that last point a little more closely.

A PUBLIC FIGURE

Jesus' family thought he was self-promoting and eager for to be a public figure as you can see from John 7:3-4: "Jesus’ brothers said to him, 'Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.'" It's comforting to know that Jesus' family thought He was self-promoting, and to some extent He was -- promoting that is, but without the self and with a purpose. Is that possible for you and I to do? If Jesus was misunderstood as He carried out the Father's will for His life, then chances are you and I will be misunderstood as well.

Weren't Jesus' miracles a means by which He could gather a crowd to announce the coming of His kingdom? Did not the Father make Jesus a household name and a celebrity in all Israel? Did Jesus gather disciples whom He then sent out to extend His work and announce God's plan with even greater intensity and scope than He did? When Peter and John encountered the crippled man in Acts 3, they ordered him to focus his attention on them: "Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, 'Look at us!' So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them'" (Acts 3:5-6). The apostles didn't insist, "Don't look at us, look at Jesus." They drew the man's attention to them and only then did they give him what God in store for him through them.

We are not going to settle this issue this week, but I wanted to start the dialogue with this week's thoughts. What do you think? Is it wrong to promote yourself? When, if ever, is it permissible? Does Philippians 2:3 prohibit any kind of ambition or marketing? I leave you to ponder these questions until next week. Till then, have a blessed week!

    Please respond to this post on the site where it is posted and let's get the dialogue going.

889: Call Your Own Number

This week, we resume our series titled "Put Me In, Coach," which is designed to help you overcome your hesitation or fear of volunteering or enthusiastically embracing your purpose and creativity. You can catch up on my past entries here before we move on this week's topic "Calling Your Own Number." Let's go there now.

IT'S NOT PRIDE    

I was at a wedding last night and met the father of the bride who is a medical doctor. He is in the Navy Reserves and every chance he gets, he volunteers to go to danger zones in Afghanistan or some other war-torn area to serve as a surgeon. I did not get a chance to talk to him much, but I heard from others that the only reason he was home at this time was because his daughter was getting married.

This man was calling his own number, which is a sports term to describe when someone puts themselves in a game without being asked to go in (They say, "Number 24, you're in," and they wear number 24). It can also refer to when a player designates that they and no one else will take the important shot or kick at a crucial time in the game. The doctor I met was calling his own number when he decided he was going to serve rather than waiting to be called upon to serve.

It isn't pride for him to do so, nor is it pride when you do the same thing in your area of expertise, gifting, or purpose. In fact, there are many biblical examples of those who volunteered when they saw situations they knew they could address or help, and they did so without necessarily waiting for an invitation.

EXAMPLES

Here are some biblical examples I can identify of calling-your-own-number actions:

1. In 1 Samuel 17, David volunteered to take on Goliath. If you read the account, at no point are we told that the Lord spoke to David to fight. David came, assessed the situation, reviewed his past success killing lions and bears, and said, "I will fight Goliath."
2. We saw in the first installment in this series that Isaiah responded in Isaiah 6:1-8 to the Lord's question, "Who will go for us" by saying, "Here am I, send me!"
3. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:1, "Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task." Paul did not write, "If you want to be an overseer, you need to curb your ambitions and wait on the Lord." He said it was a good thing and then went on to describe the characteristics one would need to cultivate to become that overseer.
4. While the army of Israel was paralyzed with fear, in 1 Samuel 14 we are told how Jonathan decided to climb the cliffs and lead the army to victory. He was so uncertain of his idea that he said "perhaps" the Lord would deliver them and then asked for a sign to confirm his idea.
5. Paul did not advise the Corinthians to only look to Jesus. He wrote, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul drew attention to himself as a good role model to follow for those who were under his authority.
6. When Lydia came to the Lord in Acts 16:11-40, she insisted that Paul and his traveling party stay with her at her home. Later, she was a source of encouragement and provision for Paul as he traveled to other venues.
7. When Nabal lived up to his name that meant "fool," his wife Abigail quickly prepared a picnic for David and his men and interceded on her husband's behalf. The Lord didn't tell her to do that. She acted quickly and prevented David from seeking revenge (see 1 Samuel 25).

My point in offering these examples is to prove that God is not offended when you step up and call your own number. When you see an orphan and say, "i will feed them," God is pleased. When you see a need and have the resources and skill to make a difference to fill it, God is not threatened. I have established several libraries in Kenya, collecting books and shipping them over at great expense. The Lord did not tell me to do this, but my partners in Kenya asked if I could help, and I figured that God must have sent them and called my own number to say, "I'll help."

In what area of your life are you ready to play the game? Where is there an opening on a team where you can step forward to say, "I can help. I'll serve." Wherever or whatever it is, I urge you to call your own number and put yourself in the game, then go about winning in that area for the glory of God. Have a blessed week!

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MATCHING GRANT FOR KENYA: I depart for Kenya this coming Thursday, February 14. I have an individual who has offered a $1,500 matching grant for the orphans there, meaning that they will match every donation up to $1,500 so I will have $3,000 to take with me. Can you give toward this great opportunity? If you, please give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you!

ISRAEL TOUR: My tour to Israel is coming up in April, 2020, and will include an optional side trip to Jordan to visit Petra. If you are interested, please check out the website and register today. Give yourself a special gift this Christmas you will never forget.

ALASKA CRUISE: Looking for a unique vacation for you and your family? Then come cruise Alaska with me in August 2019. I have been to Alaska many times and it never gets old, for there are natural wonders to behold at every stop and along the way. Check out the website and then plan on being with me as we cruise the wilderness and talk about purpose.