As a late Gen Xer, my formative years were the late 70s through the early 90s. Yes, I owned parachute pants, a TRS-80 computer, and carried a ghetto blaster on my shoulder. Atari, Commodore 64, and Nintendo were kings when it came to home video games. Michael Jordan was the man on the court.
Some of you remember this Gatorade commercial from 92. Oh, if “I could be like Mike!” Everyone wanted to be him.
Yes, you can learn from his playing style, attitude, and leadership skills. But you can’t be like him. I can’t be like him. He is unique.
Though society may say that we can be like him:
Sometimes I dream.
That he is me.
Got to see that’s how I dream to be….If I could be like Mike.
We know such is impossible. Such is designed to sell salt water with electrolytes.
We know this about the world.
However, even in the Kingdom, we often misplace our focus and start having distracting dreams.
Oh, if I could just teach like him, then everything would be okay.
Wow, I wish I could be like her. That would clarify the matter.
I want his ministry! If I just had his opportunities, then I could make an impact for the Kingdom!
We misplace our focus and lose our faithfulness. We look at others and covet.
Don’t misunderstand. Heroes are not bad, even in the Kingdom. They are good as they point to The Hero (see Heb 11). We should respect, honor, and admire individual saints for what the Spirit is doing through them. There is much wisdom in looking to other believers for examples regarding life and doctrine (1 Tim 4:12). Scripture is filled with words and passages exhorting us to find a model to imitate (2 Thes 3:7,9; Heb 13:7). We should even be willing to tell one another to “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1, ESV). Yet, this is completely different when we begin to covet the opportunities, abilities, and ministries of others.
While I do not think Peter had an issue of covetousness, he did have a misplaced focus:
When Peter saw Him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:21-22, ESV).
Don’t be concerned about what others have–and what you think you lack for Kingdom impact.
Our supposed inadequacies are God’s opportunities.
Be who God has called you to be. You are wonderfully, fearfully-made, unique, and placed in the Body in such a way that brings the most delight to your Father. Be original.
Observe others. Learn from others. Follow Jesus. Yes, He has a plan for your hero in reaching the four billion, but what is that to you? You are not him or her.
He has a plan for you in reaching the four billion, too. Stop trying to be like Mike. Don’t worry about John. Follow Him with what He has given to you!
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