From Ephesians 5:6-20: Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. --1 Peter 2:9 (NRSV)
One of the most famous people of our time is Mother Teresa. She did not seek glory or fame, only to help the poor and down-trodden that no one else cared to help. She carried the weak and the sick into shelter where she fed and clothed them and nursed them back to health or if that was not possible she loved them with the love of God and eased them with tender care into his eternal loving arms. She did this quietly, but it became known around the world. She lived her life not for her own glory, but to do great things for people who had nothing to give back to her. She lived her life in the light of God's lantern and she brought his light to shine into the world around her whereever she went.
Many people seek fame for the glory of fame. As they say, it is lonely at the top and such fame is fleeting. Seek to live in the light and to live for God's glory. If you become famous, let it be for doing great works that bring good to your neighbors and bring glory to God's name.
The famous live fully exposed. With fame comes admiration and also increased interest in the every move of the famous. If you are famous, everyone wants to know what you are doing, thinking, saying, your every move. They want to talk about you, especially if it is something tawdry or a juicy bit of gossip. A paparazzi follows with camaras to capture and record you. And it seems they hope you will do something interesting and shocking and their best hope is that you fall into some scandolous situation. They may even entrap you into one so that they can report it or they may simply fabricate it to appear as if you have fallen astray because that makes you so much more interesting at least for today. And besides, they can always get more milage out of your descent into ruin. Maybe they will get even more benefit out of your ruin than they did from your ascent into fame and they will make you infamous.
We are children of the most famous family, the family of God. We have a paparazzi...the enemy of our souls.
Remember the story of Job? Job was famous and high ranking person in his community. God seemed to bait Satan to test Job. Satan took on the task with a goal to shame Job and publically expose him as a fraud. When that wasn't working he attempted to crush his spirit and break him in pieces. God had a higher goal. Satan was exposing the inner heart of Job and unwittingly, bringing Job into a reality relationship with God. Job proclaimed to God at the end of the story, "I thought that I knew you, Lord, but now I see you face-to-face.
This may have been the pilot episode of "survivor". It certainly was a reality check. What Satan meant for shame and dishonor, God turned to glory and honor. Job is known as the most righteous man of his time. Satan got kicked off the island. But of course you know, he keeps turning up in every season. He is the enemy of your soul, but God "works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purposes." Live your life for God's purpose, live for his glory and not your own and you will know the satisfaction of a life well lived. On that day, it will be better than any head-line news to hear God say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
