Fame and Fortune

Have you ever heard of Mary King? I'm not referring to the British equestrian athlete who represented GB at 6 Olympic Games. I am referring to another Mary King. I'll give you a hint: Charles Spurgeon wrote about her. Any ideas? No? Well, I would be really surprised if you knew who she was. She was a cook at a school where Spurgeon was an assistant teacher and a devout Christian. She influenced the great preacher and theologian to such an extent that he wrote: "From her I got all the theology I ever needed."

When I moved from South Africa to the UK to join the Worship Central Academy I had big dreams of becoming a songwriter and recording artist. I wanted to write songs that would help people worship God. I wanted to write and record albums known around the world. Thank the good Lord that He didn't allow that to happen.

This later evolved into a desire to write books and become a number one bestselling author (or something like it). Again, probably more because I felt a need to prove and justify myself more than really having something to write about. This too has not progressed in any significant way, and rightly so.

If I'm honest I'd have to say that these goals sprang, at least in part, from a touch of bitterness. I wanted to show people who didn't believe in me that I could do something good; that I'm worth more than they thought. Or that I'm more capable than I thought they thought I was. An unwarranted "I'll show you..." mentality that should under no circumstances be part of the motivation to go into ministry.

By the grace of God, though, He has used me - even at my worst - to the glory of His name and to build His kingdom. I am humbled and grateful to be part of His work in some way. The old adage is still true: God can hit a straight shot with a crooked stick. 

However, I have come to realise that I don't need to work at a church, record world-renowned worship albums, or write best-selling books to be an effective part of the body of Christ. Or even to be a human being. I was looking for validation and justification while it was already offered to me.

Romans 5:1 says:

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ..."

I was looking for something already offered to me.

In other words, my worth as a human being should not be measured by what I contribute, but rather because I was made by the Almighty Creator. My worth as a Christian, in building God's kingdom in this world should not be measured by how many people know my name, how many followers I have on Twitter, or how many shares I get on a blog post, but by Who it is that thought me worthy of salvation. I can be an obscure footnote in the grander story of life on earth (as most of us are) and still be loved and cherished by the One who died for me and drew me into eternal life with His resurrection.

Everything I do should flow from this incredible knowledge. Every song I sing, write or record. Every word I write in a book or on a blog. Every crop I plant and harvest. Every piece of furniture I make. Every conversation I have with a friend, or with a stranger. Every loaf of bread I bake. Every email I send or read. Every breath I breathe.

Mary King is a hero of the Christian faith, not for the amazing books she wrote, the powerful sermons she preached, or the incredible miracles she performed. She did none of these things (as far as I know), but she is still a hero of the Christian faith for being a Christian outside of church, while doing her everyday job. That, it seems, is where God does His most powerful work.