Is it wrong to want to be famous?

Response

In our current era of celebrity culture, the attraction to fame can be overpowering. Celebrities appear to possess everything, leading us to sometimes envy their possessions or perceived lifestyle. When determining the morality of a desire, it is essential to examine our underlying motives. The book of First Corinthians 10:31 advises, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This principle serves as our benchmark for assessing our intentions. We can scrutinize any longing by asking ourselves, “Am I pursuing this for God’s glory or for my own?” It is tempting to believe that achieving fame would enable us to glorify God more effectively. Would a larger platform not attract more individuals to our message?

Jesus provides a profound example in the Gospel of John, chapter 6. Following His miraculous feeding of over 5,000 people, healing the sick, and performing other wonders, the crowd was elated. They viewed Him as the anticipated deliverer from Roman oppression. Jesus was at the pinnacle of fame, with the masses eager to proclaim Him as their king. However, verse 15 reveals, “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.”

Consider the scenario. Jesus had the opportunity to ascend to fame and wealth instantly. Logically, one might argue that if Jesus were renowned, influential, and affluent, more people would heed His message. As a king, He could potentially bring even greater glory to God. While this perspective seems reasonable from a worldly standpoint, Jesus declined the coronation. It was not aligned with God’s plan, so Jesus opted for the more challenging path. Jesus’ primary objective in all His actions was to fulfill the will of His Father and abide by it (John 4:34;John 8:29;Luke 22:42). In John 8:50, He stated, “I am not seeking glory for myself.” As Jesus serves as our ultimate role model, this should also be our aspiration.

Some individuals possess a global platform through which they can glorify God.By God. Others serve Him in apparent obscurity. Both are equally important in God’s kingdom (Matthew 5:19; Matthew 25:14-15). A desire for fame is not inherently wrong if we seek it for the right reasons. Most of us may lack the proper motivation. If we are honest, our desire for fame is often to glorify ourselves (James 4:3; 1 Timothy 6:9). However, God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). He selects the humble to achieve things of eternal value. He chooses simple truths to confound those who consider themselves wise (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). He orchestrates it all so that “no flesh should glory in his presence” «that no flesh should glory in his presence. », (1 Corinthians 1:29). That should be our heartfelt plea to Him: “Lord, may my flesh never glory in Your presence.”

When we strive to maintain humble hearts before the Lord, He pledges to exalt us in His manner, at His appointed time (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). If making us famous allows Him to utilize us more effectively, then fame will come our way. Nevertheless, fame brings its own set of challenges. Numerous renowned individuals caution that fame is not all it seems. There are headaches and heartaches that accompany fame, which many are unable to endure. God desires the very best for each of His children. When we prioritize His renown over ours, we can be confident that He will guide us along the path He has designated for us (Psalm 37:4; Proverbs 3:5-6). His path, unlike the world’s, includes rewards that endure for all eternity (Matthew 6:4; Luke 6:35; Ephesians 6:8; Proverbs 19:17).