Decrease so He can Increase

Most of our jobs have measurements that tell us whether we are being successful or not. Each year, I sit down with my boss and go over those measurements to determine how much of a raise I will get. If I apply for another position in the company, the person hiring will want to see that I’ve been successful in the past before they hire me.

God doesn’t measure success that way though. John the Baptist understood it, but his followers didn’t. When their followers began to follow Jesus, they began to get upset and complained to John. His response was simple, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

There are three things that John says that give us insight to successfully decreasing:

1. Recognize that what you’ve been given is from God

Part of the lie we live is that everything we have, is because we worked for it. Our job is not the source of our income or what we have. It is a tool that God uses to supply your needs. When we lose sight if this, we have a hard time giving because we think what we give is ours. We are stewards of what we have, nothing more.

It’s easy to get in the mindset that our earthly possessions are ours and therefore we attach our significance and worth to them. If you understand that what you have was given to you and lost everything, that would not change who God is to you. Job recognized that. When you attach your worth and significance to what you have and lose everything, it’s devastating and can have grave consequences.

2. Prepare the way, don’t get in the way

Our role is to prepare the way for others to follow Jesus, not to get in their way. Our pride is often a deterrent that keeps people from following Him. We get caught up in the idea that we are more than messengers and that not only effects the message, but also how others receive it.

We can’t let our ego get in the way of what God wants to do with us. We are servants to the cross, not the other way around. God resists the proud and favors the humble. If you want God’s favor in what you are doing, get rid of your ego, humble yourself and do what He called you to do so that He gets the glory.

3. We are groomsmen, not the groom

Most of us have been groomsmen or bridesmaids in our lives. We had the privilege of standing next to someone as they made their lifelong commitment. We understood that the wedding wasn’t about us, it was about the couple. We didn’t get in the way when we weren’t the center of the wedding.

We need to recognize that we aren’t the center of the universe. Christ came to show the world extravagant love and to offer eternal life. He is the groom and the church is His bride. What we do in life should point to that. We should live our lives as groomsmen who are always pointing to the groom and making Him the center.

What ways in your life have you found that you’ve increased and He’s decreased? What changes do you need to make to reverse that? What do you need to do to get out of the way and begin to prepare the way? It’s not too late to find God’s definition of success for your life.