Pursuing God’s Ways: The Temptation to be the Superhero

It’s so easy to take the credit.  

Recently my wife came up with a really creative idea for something at our church, and I later shared it with the leaders. In doing so, I framed the conversation in such a way that it sounded as if it was my idea. Later in the conversation I realized my pride (why was I taking the credit for the idea—she’s my spouse after all!?!?) and corrected myself by saying, “Well, it was Jennie’s idea…”. While it was a small, insignificant moment that caused no real harm, it was a glimpse into a bigger struggle that we as humans often have: the desire to take and receive the glory.  

Why do we seek the spotlight? Why do we position ourselves to receive the praise?  Why do we try to be the superhero of our life and ministry?  

Pursuing God’s Ways is our organizational theme this year. In light of that topic, let’s pause for a moment to consider how seeking to be the superhero in our story goes directly against the heart of that theme.    

Is pride acceptable to God?

You don’t need to look far in Scripture to find that God doesn’t appreciate pride. 

James 4:16 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  

Jeremiah 9:23 says, “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches. But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.” 

Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Is pride acceptable to God? No! In fact, He opposes and hates it (Proverbs 8:13). The more we as leaders and Christians jockey to be the recipient of praise and approval the more we strip God of the glory He deserves and reveal the deep longing for love that exists in every heart.

The Longing for Love

Peter Greer, in the Book The Spiritual Dangers of Doing Good, says this: “Unless we know we are loved, unless we turn our eyes away from ourselves to our Creator and recognize that we are complete and whole through Christ, we feel the need to continue striving for acceptance.” ^[1]

The bottom line is we all seek to be accepted, and we all want to be loved. Deep in the heart of every human is a longing to be good enough, and if not secured in the Lord, we will continue to pursue selfish glory.  

God is the only answer to that love-shaped void. Here are five ways God can help you shed the superhero mentality:

1. Pray. Pray for humility and the breaking of pride. Ask God to reveal where you tend to seek affirmation outside of Him.  

2. Express Gratitude. Remind yourself of God’s good gifts. Can you preach? Thank God for your platform, experience, physical voice, and the Holy Spirit that guides. Do you counsel and give wisdom? Thank God for the stories you have heard that encourage others; thank Him for your memory, your support system, and the depth and authority of Scripture. Can you lead? Write? Cook? Teach? Create or draw? Whatever it is, ground yourself with a constant heart of gratitude (2 Corinthians 4:15).

3. Avoid intentional glory moments. There are moments where I know I will receive the words of affirmation my flesh wants. After a sermon, I can stand in the hallways outside and “talk to people.” I know in those moments I will receive words of praise. Honest or not, I know they come. I have learned to do my best to avoid those, to linger longer in the front pew and avoid the crowds while I quietly give God thanks and pray for the message to transform. It’s not foolproof, but it has helped me to intentionally avoid the moments that I know will balloon my pride.  

4. Engage in the ministry of small things. Uncover God in small, unseen, unrewarded acts of compassion. ^[1] Choose to do things that are unnoticed and out of the spotlight. Serve behind the scenes—clean, organize, and pick up where needed. Show kindness to a stranger, give sacrificially, listen instead of speaking, be generous with words of encouragement. All of these things take the focus off of ourselves. “He who can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest in much” (Luke 16:10).

5. Soak in God’s Words about Himself. Psalms 8:3-6 says, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?” God is magnificent, and when we turn our eyes away from ourselves, we see that we’re not the superheroes—we’re part of a much bigger story than we ever could have dreamed. ^[1]

I was never meant to be the superhero of my story (I don’t look good in spandex either). ^[1] God however, fills our lives every day with a landslide of blessings that all point back to His goodness, grace, and love. It’s His grace that has given us the opportunities, skills, friends, and experiences that we have. Are you willing to move the spotlight of these gifts away from yourself and towards God? Let’s pursue God’s ways together by putting God at the center of our praise.

[1] Greer, Peter. The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good. Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.