Less

Less

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

WE WERE OUT FOR DINNER with friends, chatting amiably about calendars and kids, when one of my friends asked about my volunteer work with a women’s ministry organization.

“Oh, I love it,” I gushed. “But a big part of it—for me—is working with Carol. She’s the kind of leader you want to work with and learn from. She’s a big part of the reason I’ve volunteered with them for so long.”

I paused and looked at them expectantly as my friend offered a smile.

“Who is Carol?” he asked quizzically.

At first, I was taken aback. How could he not know? She’s the director of an organization and has been running it for decades. Her events draw thousands. She has contacts and relationships all over the country; she’s mentored countless people. And yet, he had no idea who she was.

But as I thought about it more, I realized how beautiful a testament it is to Carol’s character that—unless they are intimately involved with the organization—people have no idea who she is. After all, she rarely steps on stage. She never seeks the spotlight, never talks about her own (lengthy) accomplishments. She’s just as likely to be puttering around, lending a hand to clean up after an event as she is to be planning for the big moments.

In order to showcase more of Jesus, Carol has perfected the art of less. Becoming less doesn’t mean denigrating ourselves, enrobing ourselves with a false humility, or pretending that our contributions don’t matter. Rather, it shows where our priorities lie. In all things, it points others back to Jesus.

The funny thing is that, when you do know Carol, she seems larger than life. She’s beloved by the people she works alongside. The way she reflects Jesus makes her shine even brighter to those around her.

It requires humility and trust to take all the things we’re doing in the world—our work, our dreams, our plans—and place them squarely in the hands of Jesus. But when we recognize that he is in charge of all things, our priorities shift. Rather than being the rulers of our own lives, we know that we are ambassadors for him.

Lord, help us to reflect you in all we do. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: In what ways do your words and actions point people back to Jesus?