Men Can Find Significance

So as I read the following text, I would like you to listen carefully to the interaction in the conversation. You will listen to John the Baptist, and his followers talk about Jesus and his followers. And Jesus's ministry is starting to pick up some momentum. The text is from John 3:25-30.

Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:25-30

The discussion here is fantastic because it illustrates the tension between the natural and spiritual man. It highlights this internal drive we all have within us to seek significance. And the pursuit of seeking significance is the proper pursuit if we understand how to pursue it.

You see, all men, just like John the Baptist, have unique gifts, talents, abilities, messages, and missions in this life. And the spiritual man understands that these things are dispersed to him by God for use in this world for God's glory — not our own. But the natural man has a hard time understanding this. They think their gifts and talents, along with their message and mission, are for their glory. Therefore when the natural man sees someone getting glory, gaining followers, or growing in influence, they feel threatened because they misunderstand their relationship to the gifts, talents, ability, message, and mission God has given them.

But John doesn't. John understood that his gifts, talents, ability, message, and mission were to bring glory to Christ. They were not about him at any point. So his time had come. Jesus must increase, and John must decrease. And that motto, adage, and axiom should be at the center of every spiritual man's life. His glory is where we find all our significance.

So if you have been trying to find significance with family or colleagues and still haven't found it. Or if you have been trying to gain significance by means of money, possessions, or accomplishment and you still feel unsatisfied. It may be time to try a different approach. It may be time to follow one who is significant. His name is Jesus. And in him, you will discover his glory, his gifts, his message, and his mission is all the satisfaction and significance you will ever need.

ASK THIS: Do you need to do something different today in your pursuit of significance?

DO THIS: Make the decision and do it differently.

PRAY THIS: God, I am ready to try it your way. Let's go.

PLAY THIS: Different.