For Christian Writers/Bloggers: It Is Not A Competition

The one thing that struck me at Nathaniel Bassey’s album launch last year was the fact that he shared the stage with everyone.
The launch was held just after thirsty conference at our youth Church pastored by Pastor Nat and I and my friend decided to go for the album launch (even though we went late).

It was an awesome night!
I have video recordings of live ministrations of “Miracle worker” and it was amazing, I tell you.
But more than the presence of God that abounded during the ministrations, I learnt a lesson from how Pastor Nat was so willing to share the stage with everyone.

 
A group of his guys had put together “Imela” and a few of his songs in jazz version and Pst Nat introduced the songs to everyone at the launch and asked them to purchase one for themselves.
There were also worship CDs of other worship ministers at the launch and I remember mentally jotting down that “this is the way things should be done in the kingdom”.
I have written here before about how the kingdom works the opposite way from the way the world works.
You don’t hoard anything to yourself in the kingdom, you let go and give to get.
So also you don’t struggle to call attention to yourself and your fame in the kingdom, you call attention to God.
You don’t honour yourself in the kingdom, you honour God and then He honours you.
Nothing is about you in the kingdom, it’s all about God and the precious lives He wants to turn around.

 

I have been hearing “it’s not a competition” in my head for some days now and truth be told, the lesson in this pertain to both Christian writers and every other person who does ministry/any kind of service for God (but I had to place it in a category, hence the Christian writers tag)
There is a tendency for us to be tempted to go at God’s work with the world’s mind set.
What do I mean?

We keep striving and striving to be better than the next person and “show ourselves approved”.
But that’s not what God has called us into.
I would encourage us to please read 1Corinthians 12(It would clear up some silly thoughts in our minds).
We are all just serving God with our gifts in order to strengthen the church (ourselves).
So when another believer is shining forth with the gift in them, we should actually rejoice and be glad because it means that more lives are being reached for the kingdom!
And truth be told even, it’s not about me, neither is it about you.

 
Before I went offline last two weeks, God totally dealt with me on “selfish ambition”.

I was kinda playing detective on how many people had subscribed to get the bonus chapter and God totally shut me down!
You see the book that will soon be released? It’s not about my adding to my writer’s portfolio or any kind of silly goal of increasing my blog reach…its all about spreading the light of the kingdom.
So when you see someone else, a Christian writer in this instance just shining forth the light in them, rejoice!
Why?
Because God is using him/her to expand the kingdom.
In fact, pray for them, call them up and encourage them, rejoice with them and when need be, offer assistance to them like Pastor Nat did to the other worship ministers during his album launch.

 

The Church isn’t a building, the Church is you and I in wherever we find ourselves.
And the envy, jealousy and unhealthy competition that’s so prevalent in the world isn’t to be found in us.
Instead we are to do things differently.
We are to be one, united in one purpose only, spreading Christ and advancing His kingdom on earth.
And when you see someone who has gained more magnitude than you do in advancing the kingdom, then it should be “all glory be to God!
The name of Jesus is spreading forth into every heart!”

 

You will notice that I couldn’t really streamline this post to suit just Christian writers/bloggers because it’s basically for everyone who has a place of service in God right now.

 
See for all Christians, it is not about us.
You are currently in a unit in Church where it seems like someone else  outshines you?
Oh, glory be to God!
They aren’t out shining you, they are shining forth the light of God.
We must not allow the negative thoughts and feelings of the world to overwhelm us.
Pull down thoughts that are not of God!
Jesus prayed that we be united in love.
The competitive spirit in the Christian sphere is not of love.
Remember what John said when people tried to show seeds of jealousy in his heart against Jesus?

 

John 3.26-30
“So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ …
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

 

So should our answer be too.
Jesus must increase and we decrease.
And if Jesus is increasing through Sisi Maggie’s ministry, all glory be to God!

 

Ministry isn’t a competition for the best writer, pastor, worship leader, prophetess…etc.
Ministry is all about Jesus.
Make a decisive decision to place Jesus first and not yourself.

 

It is important that we recognize unhealthy attitudes and behavioral patterns and quench them as soon as they arise so we can be free to walk in God’s purpose for our lives with good conscience.

 

Remember Phillipians 4:8
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

 

So make a decision to park your mind on what pleases God not on the world’s mind sets.

 

All the above words pertain to me too and trust me I have had my fair share of experiences with the green eyed demon and I even think that God just wants me to write this post so I can be called to order anytime I miss it in the future (You thought I was writing for you alone? Blehh! Lol)

I will also share tips on how I deal with the green eyed monster (jealousy) while running the race in serving God soon.

But for now, do share with us in the comment section below… How do you cleanse your heart of all unhealthy comparisms even in your walk for God?

I’ll be reading your comments, this topic is one I am mighty interested in.

 

 

Have a week filled with displaying the attributes of Christ in you.
Love,
Frances.

 

 

P.S- One week to go for the book release!

Yay!

“Chastity For Men” will be sitting prettily in the inbox of subscribers to the blog by this time next week monday.

So subscribe below, get the free chapter and also get on the roll for the book too 🙂

 

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