When I begin to measure myself or my work based on attention and respect, I try and think of my great grandparents’ first names….when I can’t remember them, I wonder: If I don’t even know my own family members’ first names from two or three generations back, then chances are neither does anyone unless they’ve done serious research. I then remember that my name or my work will mean very little in only a short time after I’m gone. My own family won’t even know my name or what I accomplished. It’s then that I start looking for other means of motivation.
The problem with using other people to measure yourself is, well, other people. We’re all far too fickle to be dependable for such things.
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much…” (Luke 16:10). Though I’m not sure “little” and “much” are comparable between person to person. Do you think? Your “little” is definitely my “much.”
I’d definitely say it’s a mistake to start comparing “little” and “much” from person to person in any meaningful way, especially if one is prone to discouragement or jealousy. It seems like the focus should be on being faithful, not necessarily on being faithful with what.
Maybe another way to measure the “am I somebody?” question is in value to our existing audience. Sure, it’s easier to want a _bigger_ audience, but if my content (a.k.a soapbox) isn’t providing some value on a small scale than why would I think it would on a larger scale? And, that’s assuming that growth is good. Sometimes a small, but valuable soapbox will have a more lasting impact in people’s lives.
My husband and I used to sing together quite a lot in local churches, and were well received. We don’t sing so much anymore for a variety of reasons. But we once had the amazing pleasure of a few moments conversation with Bill and Gloria Gaither backstage at one of their concerts. We asked this question: “How do you know if God is calling you to move beyond your local sphere of influence in ministry?” In other words, how do we know if we should enlarge our soapbox, so to speak.
Grant spoke to this, and so did they. Bill said, “If God wants the door opened, he will open it. Otherwise, keep doing what he has called you to where you are, and be faithful to that.” God not only did not open the door beyond where we were, he closed that door. But he opened so many others that we had not noticed previously. We just kept being faithful. It was the soapbox that changed–and it got measurably larger in the process.
We are all somebody. Choose your soapboxes carefully, be faithful in the building of what you know to be truth, and compare only to the best model of Truth; we will never find this amongst mankind.
About The Author
I'm a graphic designer and sometimes writer living in Anderson, South Carolina. I serve as the Design Director for NewSpring Church. I love Jesus, my wife, Levi's Jeans, good Tex-Mex, and 8oz glass bottle Coca-Cola Classic. On good days I love them roughly in that order. Email me.
On Soapboxes, Being Somebody, and the Population of Cleveland
Wed 06/16/10
“So you have a lots of followers on Twitter and your blog—are you somebody?” Thus went one of the strangest questions I’ve ever received over Chick-fil-A nuggets. “Well, I post a lot of things online. I’ve been doing it for 7 years. That’s all I know to tell you.”
As usual, someone smarter than me articulates it better than me:
Granted, Gruber’s soapbox is to my soapbox as the population of China is to the nice folks of Cleveland, but the question remains, am I somebody? I’d argue that we’re all somebody, it’s just a matter of scale. And if you want a bigger soapbox, you best get to building.