Kingdom PioneersSample

Day 4: The Résumé:
What does your spiritual résumé look like?

Many times we’re guilty of being a little too enthusiastic about answering that question. We love to share what we do, who we know, where we’ve been, the titles before our name, and the degrees that hang on our wall.

Don’t spend your days building your public image and missing Jesus. If you don’t guard your heart and have designated times when the phone stays off, those likes, comments, and followers can cause you to become addicted to a false sense of validation. It can cause you to even trade eternal rewards for temporary accolades. And if you don’t set boundaries and be present in reality, they will also disconnect you from the people and things that truly matter.

There are going to be a lot of rewards given out in heaven to unknown people with small followings. These individuals may not have enough clout in the realms of human measurements of value to get a little blue verified check by their Instagram, but they have A LOT of clout in heaven. They do all their works for an audience of One—and He is fully captivated. It’s like it says in Proverbs 27:2 (TPT): “Let someone else honor you for your accomplishments, for self-praise is never appropriate.” If it wasn’t for pride satan and every fallen angel would still be in heaven worshiping God. Do not underestimate pride’s ability to puff you up and pull you down.

Paul’s résumé was extensive, and even he had moments where he had to defend his apostleship, and his résumé looked nothing like those we craft today or post in our social bios. We preach our strengths and successes. Paul preached his weakness. In 2 Corinthians 11:22 (TPT), Paul sarcastically called out the “super-apostles” who were preaching a different gospel than the one they had received and were leading people into deception. He mockingly stated he was acting like a fool to boast about his accomplishments as others did, and in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, basically said, ‘Humor me while I go through the list of my qualifications.’ Which were actually a list of horrific trials that would send most of us over the edge.

I’ve never been shipwrecked multiple times, bitten by a snake, or almost stoned to death and kept going. I’ve wanted to stay in bed for a week from being ghosted on social media. But I have been hellishly rejected and wounded. I’ve experienced deep pain, loss, betrayal, and suffering. Maybe our flawless résumé isn’t connecting others to Jesus as well as we think it is. Maybe it’s time your pain becomes a platform His name can be praised on.

Your résumé doesn't have to look exactly like Paul's. I know mine doesn't! And never in a million years would most of us want to put our issues on blast like Paul did: “If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.” 2 Corinthians 11:30, (NLT)

Social media tends to highlight the best of times. Are you caught up in seeking the approval, flattery and compliments of others? Are you willing to connect others to Christ through your pain and weakness as Paul did?

The Pharisees loved flattery. Sincere compliments are encouraging, but compliments with hidden agendas are actually a form of manipulation, which is witchcraft. Usually, people who operate in this spirit talk out of both sides of their mouths—flattery on one side and division on the other. The Pharisees loved seats of honor, attaboys, titles, and their own image of self-importance. It was all about who you know and where you sit at the table. Sound familiar? God isn’t sorry when our pride is wounded. He would rather it be dead.

What did Jesus have to say about it?

“They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ or ‘Reverend.’ You want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.” —Matthew 23:4-7 and 11-12 (MSG)

We need to get better at copying Paul’s approach. Our spiritual résumé should be written for an audience of one—the only One who matters. Don't get caught up in attention-seeking habits and building up your public image like the Pharisees of Jesus' time. Social media is such a powerful tool, but sometimes, we can worship tools if we’re running to them for validation before letting Jesus speak into our identity and sift our motives. Self-promotion doesn’t accomplish what we hope it will. It wreaks of insecurity and reveals areas we’re not rooted in sonship.

Would you still say yes to the call of God if it meant having a small following but large sons and daughters? What if He asked you to keep every event and work you do for Him secret? Does private inner court ministry to Jesus matter as much to you as the stuff that gets public praise? If you struggle with self promotion you’re not alone and the Lord is wanting to purify your motives so you’re not cashing in heavenly rewards for counterfeit significance. God isn’t just calling you to pioneer because it’s a romanticized buzz word. He’s calling you to pioneer something pure from His heart. To do that, maybe you need to build in secret for a season to make space for the Lord to speak His heart over your identity.