Recently, I went to speak at a Church’s annual youth convention. I noticed in the award highlights very commendable feats by the youths who would receive awards. But there was one that got me thinking; it was the award for the most spiritual. So I asked myself, who is the most spiritual, and how do we get to know such?
Friend, Christianity is personal though not private. The bulk of what we see on the outside is determined by the unseen realities. This was why Jesus said, “your Father that sees what you do in the secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6). Jesus warned that we must not carry out our spiritual activities only to be seen by men; according to Jesus, that would be our reward (Matthew 6:5,16).
The people that seem most spiritual before men may not actually be before God. The Church at Sardis had the reputation of being alive but they were dead as far as God was concerned (Revelation 3:1). After all said and done, it is what God says about you that would count. Men may give you award but real reward comes from God.
No matter who you are, where you are and what you do, always remember that human beings can only criticize you, they cannot judge you, they can only applaud you, they cannot reward you (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10). You must make up your mind to live your life in the audience of One (God). While men were stoning and possibly blaming Stephen, Jesus was giving him a standing ovation (Acts 7:54-60).
You need to constantly examine yourself to see whether you are still in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5-6). You need to know where you are before God per time without being carried away with public opinion. The Corinthian Church was, perhaps, the most gifted and outspoken but also the most carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:7-8). It took the ministry of Paul to reveal their utter spiritual bankruptcy.
Spirituality is not judged by the display of gifts of the Spirit but by the development of the fruit of the Spirit (Romans 11:29, Galatians 5:22). Gifts are simply what they are; “Gifts”. They are not markers of your spirituality (Romans 11:29). Sometimes, the most gifted are also the most carnal. Don’t judge yourself by what you are in public but by who you are in private (2 Timothy 2:19).
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria