“John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So, this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
This passage gives context to a well-known verse. John the Baptist was “the man”… He had been a top “influencer” for a long time. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote about John drawing massive crowds out to the wilderness. Herod Antipas feared John’s influence, and religious leaders sent delegations to him, thinking perhaps he was the Messiah.
Then Jesus comes on the scene, and everything changes. John is targeted by one of the enemy’s favorite weapons (envy) as his followers start following Christ. But John gives us a template on how to respond to this temptation... Keep your eye on the prize … John knows his mission has been assigned by God, and his desire is to be effective within God’s plan. Knowing the Messiah had arrived… John says something profound that we sometimes miss. He doesn’t just tolerate Jesus increasing, and him decreasing… this transition fills John with happiness. Like the best man at a wedding, he is overjoyed for the groom.
Is that how you respond when the spotlight leaves your ministry and goes toward others? When God brings a new talented person to increase growth in His Kingdom does it make you joyful? Or do you instead tear down others when you’re in their shadow? God calls us to be encouragers. And like John, we should be filled with joy when others build the Kingdom for which we fight.
Pride is the original sin, and its self-centeredness is poisonous. I am a servant of the King, and my aim is to exalt Him. Whether I am elevated or serve as a steppingstone does not matter, so long as He is glorified. Live your life helping others succeed, and when it happens, be their biggest fan.
“The true measure of your own success is found in how loudly you cheer for the achievements of others without feeling a single shred of envy.”
- anonymous
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