A Social Media Heart Exam!
We all could use a heart exam when it comes to social media!!!
Bragging?
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.- Proverbs 27:2
Today,it looks as though bragging has grown wings on social media. There's a clear difference between bragging and sharing something. If you drive down the street on a normal basis, you wouldn't see anyone unpacking their awards and achievements for neighbors, co-workers collegues, or fellow church members. This takes me back to a moment I had this weekend. Denisse and I recently joined a thriving church called Embrace Church in Sioux Falls,SD. I remember being so eager and excited to post social media about it. While truly wanting to be humble about posting my latest venture, as I was writing the post I perceived the "how" I wrote it as humble bragging which I would say is the least attractive form of bragging. The Holy Spirit convicted me and I waited for God to give me the wisdom and the right "content" to share what the Lord was doing in and through my life.
I remember when there was no social media. I could care less about sharing all the good things that went on in my life, unless it was family and friends of course. The truth of today's often narcissistic generation is that often we choose to pursues things just for "bragging rights" alone, and not because we simply want to please God. It's sad and futile when our pursuits are motivated by a need for attention or validation from a social platform...ect....ect.. You are worth more than your "likes" and "favorites"
1. You Are Loved. 2. You are Forgiven. By the Most High.
What awes me at times is knowing how influential my post are on social media. I constantly examine the motives and intentions of my heart before I lay and throughout each day to make sure I'm not Idolizing myself nor my social media accounts.
I love these words from the King of Kings, Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.- (John 8:54)
The last thing I would ever want someone to think is that "Rashawn" is promoting "Rashawn." I truly am NOTHING apart from Jesus Christ. I cry out to God frequently to take any form of selfishness and pride out of my heart.
I once heard a preacher say, "If you ever let the brightness of your blessing, blind you from the blesser, that is when your blessing will become a curse." The questions we should ask ourselves do we promote ourselves, to be seen, even to be praised?
Jesus spoke these words with finality, saying, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).
Here is another Gem by the wisest man to ever live, King Solomon: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).
“Social media fans in the flames an innate urge to promote ourselves, to be seen, even to be praised.”
Tweet this
Share that Facebook etc...ect... so on and on!
Heres the good news:
It's heart posture we need to position our hearts towards the words of Jesus and submit and obey them. "Love the Lord your God, with all your heart your mind, your soul, your strength... What's so great about the Living Word (Jesus) aka the Savior of the world, only Jesus had cause to exalt himself. Yet he humbled himself instead, taking on human flesh and dying on the cross. We’re to have the same attitude of humility, which may be counter-cultural on social media — and exactly what enhances our witness as followers of Christ.
Two questions to ponder:
Am I Battling Envy and Discontentment?
If social media is tempting us toward discontentment, we glorify the Lord by choosing to repent — after we log off. -
Is This the Best Use of My Time?
The Bible speaks of making the most of our time, because the days are evil. Let's do all we can to fulfill God's plan for our lives. Amen? This is a journey we were called to do together.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic below! Thanks. Talk to you soon!
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