“He [Jesus] must be greater. I must become less” –John 3:30

We live in a world where culture is all about promoting self. It’s ‘me’ centred; adverts convincing us that if we do this diet we will look good; owning this product will enhance our life; eating this food will satisfy all our desires. Social media becomes about social importance and turns into a popularity contest encouraging dangerous comparison: how many likes did I get on that post? How come she has more likes, followers than I do? She has more friends than I do. Time is very precious and we don’t want to do things unless it benefits us too. And so we go even deeper into thinking of ourselves; what we can do to make our lives better.

But John teaches us another way to live. He tells us Jesus is to be greater, greater than us. That’s not to say we don’t look after ourselves and give our bodies rest and nourishment. It’s just that Jesus becomes the focus of all we do, rather than self. To me, that means that everything I do must bring glory to God.

I take photos, not to gain approval from other people’s likes and encouraging comments but because I draw close to God when I’m taking them.

I write, not to make myself feel good or again, gain approval from other people, but because it’s something God has gifted me with. I honour God when I use the gifts he has given me.

I work with children, not to just do a good deed but because Jesus was compassionate towards them and has given me that same compassion.

I serve my husband, not because I expect anything in return but because by serving him, I serve Jesus.

In everything I do, I want to bring glory to God.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” –Philippians 2:3-4

Here we are reminded again that it is not about ourselves. Jesus comes first and out of our serving him, comes serving others. To not think of self is such a challenge in an ever-increasing self-centered culture. However, Jesus doesn’t call us to be comfortable in life. He offers a life that is counter-cultural but a far better life than any self-indulgent activity can bring us. Material things lose with value. Pride can fade with even just one negative comment. And so we’re left in a cycle of feeling elated, deflated and then finding the next thing that will make us feel elated again. I know from personal experience how looking inward can be destructive to well-being and it’s only when I’m making Jesus greater, making Jesus be the reason I do the things I do that good well-being in maintained. Jesus breaks that cycle mentioned above and offers us a life of eternal joy. How do we get this joy? By making him greater than anything else on this planet.

So, how will you make Jesus greater in your life today?

Do you need to change anything in your life that would stop Jesus being greater than you?

“He must be greater. I must become less” –John 3:30