not surprise us that we do too.
But the Kingdom of God operates on a different economy. Scripture calls us to live a quiet life, focusing on faithfulness over fame, on building an altar instead of a platform, and seeking a heavenly crown over an earthly one. Paul sums up such a lifestyle when he encourages you and me,“ Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands”( 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
"... your worth comes not from the approval of others but from God."
Likewise, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to be“ poor in spirit,” to“ hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and to be“ pure in heart”( Matthew 5:3-8). These beatitudes are not about external conformity but internal transformation. In fact, that is just how Christ lived His life on earth:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross- Philippians 2:3-8, CSB
Before His public ministry began at age thirty, Jesus lived in relative obscurity, minding his own business, working with His hands as a carpenter in Nazareth. There are no records of Him performing miracles or teaching large crowds during this time. Instead, He was faithful in the ordinary aspects of life, preparing for the mission God had for Him. This period of quiet faithfulness laid the foundation for His later ministry. Nobody knows for sure what Jesus was doing at age sixteen, twenty-one, or twentyseven. But we can confidently know that those private and silent years prepared Him for the three public years of ministry.
By the way, I should point out that leading a quiet life does not mean withdrawing from the world or avoiding public witness. Rather, it defines the posture of our hearts as we engage with the world and the humility with which we witness. And contrary to what the world may believe, there is great power in hiddenness.
Rick Warren observed,“ This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.”
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