Everybody wants to be a rock star

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  Colossians 3:23-24


Ask five kids what they want to be when they grow up.  I will bet four out of five will want to be some sort of celebrity, whether that is a musician, actor, or sports star.  And why wouldn't they?  Isn't that what everyone in our culture strives for?  Fame is the ultimate intoxicant in this party called "Life in the 21st Century."

Christians are certainly not exempt from this.  Think about it: God calls you to do something, and you immediately picture it as this wildly popular, successful triumph.  For example, if you are called to be a writer, you think you have to write a best seller.  If you are called to be a musician, you imagine performing before crowds of thousands.  And what pastor hasn't dreamt of leading a megachurch?  It all seems so world-changing, powerful, and divine.  After all, that's what God wants, right?

The truth is, God has a plan for your life, just as He has a plan for all those famous people.  The thing is, it might not be the same plan.  While Rick Warren was called to impact thousands of people, your role may be to impact one person (who may, in turn, impact thousands).

Mother Teresa is often credited with this statement:  "God doesn't call us to be successful, he calls us to be faithful."  That means, if you were called to be a mother, change that dirty diaper with gusto.  If you were called to be a waiter, look for every opportunity to be Jesus to a customer.  If you were called to be a teacher, share your knowledge with creativity and excitement.  Do your job to the best of your ability in the spirit of serving Christ.

That doesn't mean you can't dream about having a ministry that changes the world.  Jesus said, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much" (Luke 16:10).  He did not say if you are trustworthy with very little, you can expect to be given much.  He calls us to be faithful in the small things, even if that is all they ever amount to, in our eyes.  We must trust that these small things are part of the greater good in furthering the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.