Sometimes it’s as subtle as preaching that is one step removed from the Bible: “This is what the Bible says, this is what I did, therefore do as I did.” Other times it’s more obvious as people use their “ministry” to promote themselves—their name up in lights and their face printed on merchandise.

As Christians, we can be deceived into thinking that building our own platform will help us better proclaim the message of Christ. The more well-known you are, the more you can impact people and preach the gospel, right?

I’ve wrestled with this as an author. The goal of my writing is always to help people. But in a world where social media engagement equals more sales, I feel torn knowing that when I post more frequently, I receive more orders. Is that just manipulating people? Do I really need to build a platform for myself in order to help more people?

Over the years, I’ve taken breaks from social media as my mind wrestles with the link between posting and book sales. Surely if Jesus wanted people to read my books, He could make a way without me needing to promote myself? A few times, I’ve decided to disappear from socials. Inevitably, soon after, I’ll receive a message from a reader telling me how they stayed up all night reading my book, and they’ll share their story and share how my book, ‘Daughter Wait!’, helped them. I’m humbled, then convicted that God has entrusted me with a powerful testimony, and I shouldn’t be drawing back; instead, I need to continue putting it out there.

Maybe building a platform is being a good steward of the message God has entrusted me with? Maybe it is just part of being an author in today’s society? Round and round I go, weirded out by the whole process and left feeling uncertain about the right approach.

Here’s the truth:

It’s not about the size of the platform or its effectiveness. It comes back to motive. If your desire is for influence and popularity, then the message you are proclaiming is you.

If your earnest desire is that Jesus would be made known, then your ‘success’ won’t be measured by the size of your platform but by how obediently you have done what God has asked you to do. You won’t care if people notice you or not.

Motives can be uncovered by asking yourself: Do I want people to say “You’re so talented, you lead worship so well” or do I want them to say “The presence of God was so strong this morning, God really spoke to me”?

The first is a desire to be seen and recognised, the second is a desire to remain unseen and Jesus be glorified. Popularity and influence may come, but they can fade just as quickly. If we are fixed on the crowd’s perception, we are rocked when their opinions and preferences change (and they will).

The best thing we can do for people is point them to Jesus and get out of the way. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hearts that focus their intention on people encountering Jesus remain steadfast; they are not swayed by popular opinion, likes and dislikes. Their reward is Him alone.

Going Deeper…
Does this mean we hide our gifts and never let them shine? Of course not! The second part of this verse says that we are to be ‘bondservants’ for Jesus’ sake. The word bondservants, in the original Greek, means “to bind”. It is usually translated as “slave” or “servant.” It means the servant is bound to their master and subject to their will. In this context, this type of service is voluntary, in which a person willingly offers their obedience and loyalty. The overarching theme is that the servant serves with a disregard for their own interests.

We are here to serve, under the submission of God, whatever He requires of us. I’m the slave, Jesus is the master. I must only do what He asks me to do, nothing else. This may sound heavy and, to be honest, a little scary. The thought of offering up my will and desires in place of whatever He wants makes me feel a little trapped, like I have no choices.

Thankfully, the opposite is true. Jesus, our master, is kind. We can trust Him.

Our best life unfolds as we seek to follow Him.

He doesn’t box us in. He leads us to wide open spaces. We may have desires in our hearts, but chasing after them won’t bring success. We don’t need to put ourselves forward or build a platform.

We don’t need to strive for promotion or appointment. You don’t need to convince others of your devotion to Christ—dropping into conversation how much time you’ve spent with Him, that’s preaching you. You don’t need to prove anything.

The only thing we need to chase is Jesus as we trust Him with the details of our lives.

Relax, be yourself. Pursuing solely what He asks will bring you deep contentment and anchored peace.

REFLECTION

God has given you gifts to glorify Him.

1. Write down the gifts you feel God has given you. These might be activities you feel particularly close to God when you do them or ventures that have proven to be fruitful for you over the years.

2. When you use your gifts and go unnoticed, how do you feel? If negative feelings arise from not being noticed, this can indicate that you are using your gift for the wrong reason. Negative feelings might include feeling rejected, undervalued, overlooked, unworthy or feeling like you don’t measure up. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment as you bring these feelings to Jesus, looking to Him alone for your security.

3. Keep a check on hidden motives, especially when serving and loving others. Ask yourself, “Am I hoping for a certain outcome as I do this?” This requires honesty, but it’s worth returning to pure motives and trusting the sovereignty of God. Using our gift for His Kingdom should always come out of an overflow of love for Him and obedience to His will.

PRAYER
Father, I come before you just as I am. Thank you for entrusting me with gifts to use for your glory. I take this moment now to offer these gifts back to you. I lay them at your feet. Forgive me when I have attempted to build my own platform and served out of wrong motives. I desire to do only what you ask of me from a place of purity and obedience. It is your approval alone that I desire. Help me detach from others’ opinions and find rest solely in your gaze.

Amen.

I’m praying these reflections are giving you something to ponder in the weeks leading up to Easter. Thanks to those who emailed back and sent their personal reflections via various channels. It’s always refreshing to hear how others have received my thoughts.

Bless you,

Carly is a writer living on the Gold Coast, Australia with her husband Joe and their two girls: Beni and Selah. She is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, a lover of His Church, His people, His Word and life in general.

Faceless Worship is the first book in the series ‘A Pilgrimage to Worship.’ Across eight days of study, you’ll find word studies and accompanying links to scriptural references for further reading.

The Worship series is for all creatives and anyone seeking a better understanding of biblical worship. Book one, Faceless Worship, is a call to humility.  It’s for the hungry, the desperate, and those desiring to cultivate a relationship with Jesus that is so close that it causes all else to fade into insignificance.

Carly’s first book Daughter Wait is an invitation to consider a different approach to dating and relationships. If you have ever wondered, “How do I have a Godly relationship?” How do I know if he is the one? What are realistic boundaries in a Christian relationship? How do I move on from a broken heart? Then this book is for you. Written in Carly’s unique conversational style, you’ll cry, laugh and cheer as you follow her story of love and loss. Daughter Wait is a timeless reminder that regardless of your past, God has the best for your future.