Christ Must Increase. I Must Decrease.Sample

G.O.A.T.

I recently had lunch at an elegant restaurant where some business people commonly go to self-righteously boast to potential new clients, hoping to win them over. The wait staff bustled around tables filled with starched suits and stiff drinks, and I couldn't help but overhear the prideful chatter. 

 

I chuckled and thought, what a group of self-absorbed goats! Not the barn-yarn variety, mind you. I'm talking about the acronym G.O.A.T., meaning "Greatest of All Time," originally referred to the boxer Muhammad Ali. (And now Tom Brady too.)

 

Everyone wants to be the G.O.A.T., but we have to be careful not to become prideful in the process. We fall victim to arrogance when we focus primarily on ourselves, becoming self-important and conceitful. Pride often leads to destruction and prevents us from submitting to God's purpose for our lives. 

 

God hates human pride and ruthless, selfish ambition. Instead, He wants us to be humble, valuing others above ourselves. With humility comes the ability to know, seek, and serve God with all our hearts. Philippians 2:3-4 says it best, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

 

Have you ever been told, or told someone else, "It's not all about you!" When you continually place yourself in the spotlight, there's no room for God to shine! If you want to be beneficial to God's kingdom, you must become less inwardly focused. 

You can begin by taking the focus off yourself, thanking God more often, putting others first, and really listening. Listen with the same passion you feel about needing to be heard. God is the ultimate "Greatest Of All Time!" He is worthy of our praise!