It's Not About Me - Max Lucado [27]
Through the Burnhams’ struggle, God was seen.
Through Martin’s death, God was seen.
Through your problems and mine, may he be seen as well.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MY SUCCESS IS ABOUT HIM
13
How well do you know the following people and organizations?
Jack Tinker and Partners
Doyle Dane Bernbach
BBDO
Foote, Cone and Belding
J. Walter Thompson
How did you do? Not too good? If not, then the ones on the list are pleased. Advertising agencies don’t exist to make a name for themselves. They exist to make a name for others. While you may not be acquainted with the companies, aren’t you familiar with their work?
“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.” The work of Jack Tinker and Partners for Alka-Seltzer in 1976.
“We try harder.” Doyle Dane Bernbach created the slogan for Avis Rent A Car in 1962.
“M’m! M’m! Good! M’m! M’m! Good!” Credit BBDO with the catch-phrase Campbell’s Soup has used since 1935.
While you’ve never heard of Foote, Cone and Belding, have you ever heard this motto: “When you care enough to send the very best”? Hallmark began using the line in 1934.
You don’t hum the name of J. Walter Thompson, but have you hummed the jingle his agency wrote for Kellogg’s “Snap! Crackle! Pop!” Rice Krispies?1
We could learn a lesson from these companies.What they do for clients, we exist to do for Christ.To live “reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 JB).
As heaven’s advertising agency, we promote God in every area of life, including success.
That’s right—even your success is intended to reflect God. Listen to the reminder Moses gave the children of Israel: “Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich, and he does it to fulfill the covenant he made with your ancestors” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT).
From where does success come? God.“It is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich.”
And why does he give it? For his reputation.“To fulfill the covenant he made with your ancestors.”
God blessed Israel in order to billboard his faithfulness. When foreigners saw the fruitful farms of the Promised Land, God did not want them to think about the farmer but the farmer’s Maker. Their success advertised God.
Nothing has changed. God lets you excel so you can make him known.And you can be sure of one thing: God will make you good at something. This is his principle: “True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life” (Proverbs 22:4 NLT).
Would we expect any less? A godly life often results in success. Consider a construction worker, for example. Imagine a trouble-making, hard-drinking fellow. Before he knows Christ, he’s not much of an employee. Frequent hangovers, padded expense accounts. Sneaks out early on Friday afternoons . . . He does it all. And he pays the price —overdue bills, bail-bond debts, a resumé that reads like a rap sheet.
GOD LETS YOU EXCEL
SO YOU CAN MAKE
HIM KNOWN.
But then Christ finds him. Not only does God save his soul, he straightens out the man’s work habits.The guy shows up on time. He does his job. He stops complaining and starts volunteering. Everything improves—attitude, productivity, cooperation.
And guess who notices? His boss. And guess what happens? Promotions. Pay increases.The company truck and credit card. Success. But with the success comes a problem.
Just ask Nadab, Elah, and Omri. Or interview Ahab, Ahaziah, or Jehoram. Ask these men to describe the problem of success. I would, you might be thinking, if I knew who they were. My point exactly. These are men we should know. They were kings of Israel.They ascended to the throne ... but something about the throne brought them down.Their legacies are stained with blood spilling and idol worship.They failed at success. They forgot both the source and purpose of their success. King Nadab symbolized them all: “He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin