Who Wants To Be A Superstar?

                                                Who wants to be a superstar?

We can play in a mediocre league and be part of a team of less than average players, and that way we can be a starter or even become the main star of that team, scoring double digit numbers in our statistics and getting all the attention of those around us.  Or instead, we can be a part of a major high-level league, enrolling in a team where the best in the world are playing.  There we may serve in a small role, maybe as a substitute, not playing major minutes but around those guys in that level of competition, we will become the best players that we could possibly be at the highest possible level that we could ever play.  Which one would you rather be?  I think the decision will be primarily made depending on what are your goals, desires and objectives as a player.  In other words, the question is the following:  Is your goal to be the best player you can possibly be or is your goal just to have fun while playing the game?  We can take this as an analogy for Christianity. 

               What are our goals and desires as a Christian?  Do we settle for a mediocre spiritual experience because we just want to have fun socializing in the game of Church?  Do we want to be in ministry just to stand out among the less capable of discerning spiritual truths to get all the attention we can get?  Or would we instead pursue to become the best follower of Christ that we could possibly be, challenging ourselves by being surrounded with the most serious, mature people we can find?  Where are the people today who want to reach the highest level possible in their walk with God?  It seems most people are content with a shallow spirituality.  They go to church to hear the music but not to be transformed in worship.  They sit down to hear something that will make them feel good but not hear anything to the point that it would challenge them out of their comfort zone to do something for Christ they have never done before.  They go to a building to gather around those they can socialize with, people they have something in common with—race, gender, work, education—anything or everything except a God encounter.  It’s a social club to see friends they can have a good time with, maybe get a pay check doing some church work or network with others for their next ministry hookup. In the team of high level Christianity, the superstars are the ones who die daily to self, who sacrifice continually all they have for the advancement of the kingdom, who esteem others higher than themselves and eagerly pursue the well being of others over their own interest.  They are those who forgive those who offend them and pray for those who persecute them, who are willing to lay down their life in the service of their community, washing the feet of others in love and humility. 

         They don't want to be recognized, they are not looking for attention, they are not seeking to be exalted or to impress others with spiritual babbling, they are pursuing intimacy with Christ, transformation into the image of the Son of God.  They are looking for their only reward-- to hear well done thou good and faithful servant!  So who wants to be a superstar now?  I hear people saying they are hungry to learn the word yet they don't show up to bible class and spend more time watching tv and playing with their computer than reading the bible or meditating on the word.  I hear others say they are hungry for God yet they hardly show up to Church, they are not accountable to anyone and cannot take correction from anybody.  How many days have you gone without food, fasting and asking God to change your life?  Or how many hours have you spent locked inside a room telling God you won't leave the room until He shows up and speaks into your life gain?  Hungry for God?  I don't think so--maybe hungry for attention!!   So who wants to be a superstar now?