Seeking “Christian” Fame

It seems that each year brings the sad news of an unexpected, accidental death of a celebrity. Each time I am caught off guard and shocked. Each time I grieve with the rest of America. Last year, for example,  we saw the shocking loss of the very talented actor, Philip Seymour Hoofman. These movie stars and musicians entertain us, but they are people. They are people with families and friends and most importantly, souls. A quick search for “number of drug-related deaths for stars” renders an enormous list. I am unsure of how it compares with the rest of society but in terms of other jobs, becoming a star seems to be hazardous.

And yet so many of us want to be a star.

We may not long to be movie stars but the same craving for the limelight can lead us to despair. It may not be in the pursuit of Broadway but it can manifest itself in our everyday. We long to be recognized for doing something good or perhaps we do something good to be recognized. Jesus gives us a different picture of doing good. In the book of Matthew he says, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (6:3-4).  Our service to others in private brings glory to God. We won’t be recognized. The red carpet won’t be laid out. But our reward is in heaven which is far greater (6:4).

And if we aren’t tempted to serve others for praise, we may be tempted to look “Christianly” for the praise of others or out of pride. This may look like faking maturity while privately struggling with great sin and temptation. It could be doing any spiritual activity simply to be seen.  Jesus warns of this too in Matthew.  He continues, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others” (6:5). And once again, Jesus gives a solution to this temptation. Instead he says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (6: 6-7).  Oh what reward we have in heaven! We don’t need fame or recognition when we have Jesus.

The price of fame for movie stars often leads to a life of misery and physical death. The price of seeking fame and praise and glory for anyone will lead to a spiritual death. It will never satisfy and will leave you continually seeking and searching. Instead, let us cry out like the Psalmist in Psalm 73, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (25). We can say this when our hearts, minds, and eyes are fixed on the only One who can satisfy. And like the Psalmist, our hearts may fail but “God is the strength of (our) heart and (our) portion forever” (26). God will supply the strength and He will provide the satisfaction. This is great news. We don’t even have to muster up the strength for our worship—the Lord provides it.

Let’s pray for those in the entertainment industry. And let us recognize our own temptation to seek fame and glory. When we are tempted let us run to our Father who supplies grace for us to put off temptation and seek Him. He will give you and me the grace if we ask for it. And He will satisfy us with His steadfast love.

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