Fame’s Fire

“The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,

And each is tested by the praise accorded him.”

- Proverbs 27:21

“The crucible tests silver, and the furnace tests gold;

People are tested by praise that about them is told.”

- Proverbs 27:21, a poetic rendering

Fame, money, influence - power of any kind - carries with it the potential of corruption. Many times in the Scriptures, we find people being prepared for a long season of time before God promotes them to places of influence. Public leadership can be a dangerous business; and James tells us plainly that teachers will be judged with stricter judgement. Jesus Himself “learned obedience by the things He suffered,” and was severely tested in the wilderness before returning in the full power of the Spirit into Galilee to commence His ministry.

In today’s strange world of social media, we are able to get a dose of “fame” in our own small way. Having a post with a few likes on it, or a few hundred, is enough to throw gas on a narcissist’s ego. And I think at least in some way, we are all in danger of becoming addicted to this dose of “fame,” even if it is just a perceived or pseud-fame. The mind can play tricks on us, and easily tempts us to the extremes of grandiosity or despair. What I would give to have today’s young people become aware of this to the extent that they would guard their hearts with all vigilance - from which flow the springs of life.

As a 15-year-old leading the music and teaching Bible lessons at youth groups, I received my first taste of this attention. I was more than likely pretty lousy skill-wise by all standards, but regularly being on a stage is a strange thing. I would argue it was not part of the early church’s standard operating procedure, even for the pastors and teachers (of which there were generally a multiplicity of, instead of one main leader). You see we all need attention from the time we’re born until we die, but we need it from genuine individuals who love us, not crowds. Crowds are the ficklest of things; they may adore you one moment and abhor you the next. When one has healthy family relationships and friendships, they are likely to be more grounded and able to resist identifying with crowd-attention, but it still can be a terribly dangerous business.

The fire of fame, even when it is only perceived in the privacy of one’s own mind can consume them from the inside out. Lucifer, aware of the beauty of his own nature, wanted to ascend and be separate from all others creatures, to be like the Most High. He was close to the throne and wanted to be on it. This was followed by his fall. He continues today to prowl around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Pride always goes before the fall. It is possible in the convoluted nature of a deceived mind to even take pride in “humility”: how humble one thinks they are. The only safe haven is faith and love: it trusts in Jesus alone for right standing with God, and it seeks to love God and others above itself (the upward and outward foci taking precedence over the inward). Faith clings to God as its source instead of clinging to other gods: money, fame, self-righteousness, etc. “All my springs are in You,” as the Psalmist declared.

I’m thankful for the following passage making an impression upon my heart while reading it in high school. George Whitefield was a main figure - if not the main figure - in America’s first Great Awakening. In a certain city, the crowds were welcoming and cheering for Mr. Whitefield and gathering to hear him so enthusiastically that he later wrote in his journal,

“the tide of popularity began to run very high. I could no longer walk on foot as usual but had to go in a coach from place to place to avoid the loud hosannas of the multitude. They grew quite extravagant in their applause. Had it not been for my compassionate Jesus, popularity would have destroyed me. I used to plead with Him to take me by the hand and lead me unhurt through this fiery furnace. He heard my request and allowed me to see the vanity of all applause except His own.”

“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”

- Psalm 115:1