2016: Self-Denial #6
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” -Matthew 16:24

This devotion is designed to guide you through time with God in order to examine a specific category of self-denial. Reflect on the questions this category addresses. Examine Scripture to see what God has to teach on the topic and where he might lead you in transformative growth. Choose one or more exercises to practice this form of self-denial, and return at the end of the month to examine and reflect. Remember, the goal is not to give something up, but to grow in greater dependence and more deeply treasure your relationship with God.

WARMING UP: Before you begin, get in a comfortable position, relax your body, and spend a few moments in silence. Once you are ready, move to the exercise below.

THE TOPIC: Credit/Acclaim

Fifteen minutes of fame. Academy Awards for Outstanding Achievement.Stanley Cup.Olympic Gold medals.Donor walls at museums.Lists of volunteers at the back of the program.Roses for the prima ballerina. We are a society attuned to giving credit, praise, applause, acclaim and attention. It’s not surprising that we have become acculturated into being a people who expect accolades for anything we do or accomplish. We seek the approval of others.

It’s certainly not wrong to receive a raise, promotion, or word of thanks for a job well done. And it’s gratifying to have others recognize our efforts or kind intentions. However, if we develop a mindset of expecting or needing thanks, approval or attention from others, we risk getting caught in a perpetual cycle. We start to do more to be noticed more. The temptation is to do things for approval or credit instead of from a heart motivation to serve others or contribute to the greater good. Even more dangerous is that we may forget that all we are and have comes first from the Lord as a gift to be used for His glory. We may even lose sight of pleasing Him in our endeavors to please others.

As we have discovered in each of these practices, heart attitude is what must be examined. Paul calls us into accountability in this area in Galatians 1:10: Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV) Use this month to look deep within yourself. When you do something good for someone else, are you doing it to be noticed or thanked? Are you too often caught up in a desire for attention or credit? Are you more concerned about pleasing others or looking good on the outside than you are in humbling yourself before God?

Scripture examination

1) In Mark 7:31-36; 8:22-26, we read two accounts of Jesus healing someone and requesting the act remain confidential. These are representative of numerous times in Jesus’ ministry when He avoided credit or acclaim. He refused two of Satan’s temptations in Matt. 4:5-10 which would have granted Him fame and notoriety. Consider Jesus’ example. Read what Paul has to say about it in Phil. 2:3-11. What does this say to you about your own motivations?

2) Jeremiah 9:23-24 is a sharp reminder that being centered in who God is far surpasses any acclaim or reward the world might offer us; it demands humility instead of pride. Let this verse soak into your heart and listen to what the Spirit says to you about it.

3) Notice how Jesus probes at intent in Matthew 6:1-4. Trumpeting generous gifts to the poor is just one example He offers of religious ‘show’ versus authentic righteousness. The whole of the Sermon on the Mount is centered on the attitude of the heart. Doing right ought to flow from a heart right with God. Doing right to win attention from others as an indirect method of pleasing God is not pleasing God. In what ways are you caught in the same temptation for outward show? How does impressing others shift your focus away from giving your attention to God?

Practice: Choose one or more of the following ideas to practice the denial of credit/acclaim/attention throughout this month (or come up with an activity of your own!)

  • Do something kind for another or donate money anonymously; offer this to the Lord as worship to Him; savor the sweetness of pleasing only Him
  • Memorize James 4:10; pray it before attending church services or serving someone else, even if that service is as simple as taking out the trash or giving up the last piece of pie; ask the Lord regularly to check your heart’s intent
  • Keep a ‘journal of confession’ throughout the month; each time you find yourself looking around to see who noticed a kind or right act on your part, write a prayer of confession to the Lord, asking Him to transform your perspective
  • Paraphrase the words to the old Celtic hymn, Be Thou my Vision; hone in especially on verse 3, which says: Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise-Thou mine inheritance, now and always…Use your paraphrase as a prayer

Return for reflection: At the end of the month, spend time reflecting on your practice of self-denial.

-What did the Lord reveal to you overall about your inclinations toward receiving credit or attention or praise from others? How has your perspective on this changed?
-If you chose to do something anonymously, how did that feel? Are you inspired to do something like this again?
-What have you learned about the appropriate balance between being credited for a job well done and having the need for credit as your motivation?
-Which Scripture spoke most profoundly to you? What plan of action will you take to regularly turn to this passage for accountability in the future?