Have you ever eaten too much of a good thing? So much so that it made you sick? I remember one Halloween in particular…because Halloween is national junk food day. And this particular one my kids had nothing but junk food. They had a party at school complete with cupcakes and candy. We went out to Friendly’s and they had a milkshake. We did the Halloween Parade our church puts on with the town and they had hotdogs, popcorn, and of course, as fast as they were filling up their bag with candy from trick or treating they were eating it. I had no idea how much junk food they really had.
But in the middle of the night…I found out pretty quickly…one child vomited it all over their room, their sheets, the floors, and the walls. After they covered their room they left a trail all the way to the bathroom. I don’t think anything actually made it into the toilet.
Who knew a kid could fit all of that in their stomach?!? Let me just say I’ve never had a chocolate milkshake since! True Story! Ever since then we keep a close eye on junk food.
We all know too much junk food is bad for us…But here is something else the Bible says isn’t healthy for us.
When I read this verse I picture a child who snuck into their pantry and ate way too much honey! Then the ugly truth came out in the middle of the night. They didn’t have to worry about too much chocolate it sounds like honey was the guilty pleasure of the day.
Just like too much honey (or junk food)…your soul will get sick from seeking honor for yourself.
We have lots of ways of expressing “seeking honor” in our culture. We call it “fishing for compliments,” “living for the applause,” we call it “approval addiction,” or we call it “the need to be validated.” In extreme cases we have a clinical diagnosis…narcissism.
We live in a time when it’s never been easier to “seek honors” for ourselves. In fact social media is re-wiring our brain to think about how to post things that will get us honors….but we call it “likes,” “followers,” and “influence.”
Social media has given us a new filter to look at our life. Our brains subconsciously go through the day looking for a moment to post so people will lavish honor and praise on us.
Is sounds something like this…
“This moment is perfect to show people what a wonderful parent I am”
“This moment will get me lots of honor for how hard I work”
“How spiritual I am”
“How accepting I am”
“How generous I am”
“How beautiful I am”
“How on point my political views are.”
You probably haven’t noticed the voice yet, but I hope you will start to listen and see what is really influencing the things you post.
Social media is training our brains to seek honor for ourselves.
Now, I realize social media is a double-edged sword because we desperately need examples…we need role-models…we need people to look up to…people to point the way…and more importantly demonstrate the way. But if we aren’t careful it becomes more about our need to be in the spotlight than about pointing the way. It can become about our need to be validated and quieting our insecurities than about being an example.
You’ll have to watch your soul carefully to know the difference.
It’s very instructive for us that the eye witnesses records for us that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places.
Some of us would like to think Jesus did this because He was an introvert and needed to recharge.
Maybe He was, but I think more than anything He needed to spend time in prayer re-centering His soul. Because whether you are an introvert or an extrovert being in the spotlight blinds you. And in Jesus’ case everyone was wanting to crown him the new king. That’s a lot of pressure! 20,000 adoring fans…shouting your praises…chasing you around from town to town. Large amounts of that stuff will make you sick. It’s too much of a good thing.
Praise can be hard to handle. It’s subtle because you find yourself wanting more and more. You can start to live for it. Before you know it you’re an approval addict. Once you start craving it…We make decisions based not on what’s wise, but based on what will heap honor and glory on me.
Listen, I’m not saying you can give too much affirmation or encouragement. Every one of us needs affirmation and encouragement. Jesus needed to hear His father say… “This is my son in whom I’m well pleased.” Lots of men still need to hear that today from their father or another man. It’s healthy to be affirmed! It’s a command for us in the New Testament to encourage one another. You never have to worry that you are affirming or encouraging someone too much. It’s impossible!
What I’m talking about is not what the other person does, but what we do to try to influence what the other person does. Are we trying to influence them to give us honor and glory? Why are you posting what you’re posting? Are you seeking honor?
It’s subtle…because only you know your real motivation. You have to pay close attention to your soul.
All throughout history we see examples of leaders who didn’t think their desire for self-glory and honor was a big deal and it kept growing and growing. It eventually ruined the company or country they were charged with leading.
I recently read about how Xerxes the Persian Emperor (the same emperor as in the book of Esther or the less holy movie 300) was so enraptured in his own glory that when he set out to cross the Hellspont during the invasion of Greece the water surged destroying his bridge. Xerxes ordered the water receive 300 lashes with chains and branded with hot irons. While his army was punishing the water they were supposed to say… “Your master lays this punishment on you for injuring him who never injured you.”
Can we say crazy?!? …and he beheaded everyone who built the bridge.
He went so far down the path he even viewed nature as attacking his glory.
But you are probably thinking I would never let it go that far.
Listen, you don’t have to let it go that far to hurt your relationships. You don’t have to let it go that far for it to lead to divorce. You don’t have to go that far before your children don’t want anything to do with you or before your children make poor choices because they are an approval addict too. It doesn’t have to get that far before you lose your friendships because people don’t want to be around you.
So what’s the answer?
You should memorize this verse.
Everything good in your life has come to you because of God. Sure you have worked hard. But we forget the “lucky” breaks. We forget that some of the risks we took could have gone the other way. We forget we have health. We forget the great country we live in. We forget the guides God has placed in our life at just the right time. We forget the miracles. We forget the all nighters on our knees.
We start thinking it’s because we are so smart. We’re so wise. We’re so talented.
Nope…God has been so so good to us.
The next time you find yourself feeling smug about your choices, your bank account, your children, your body size, your career. I want to challenge you to stop and say…God I am so so sorry.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name belongs all the glory
Here is the bottom line….
You might be remembered by history…but no one wants to be like you. You’ll be remembered for the wrong reasons. Lots of people who lived for their own glory didn’t live a story worth emulating. But you can be different. It starts with asking the question, “Why am I really posting this on social media?” “What’s my real goal?”
When glory is your aim, your story will be lame.
God has been so good to you…He deserves all of the glory and honor.
