Worship Musician January 2020 | Page 33

More than that, as I struggle to come to grips If my security is placed in my abilities—musical “I play my drum for Him, Pah-rup-a-pum-pum,”
with the enormity of what God has done for or otherwise—and the value that other people “I play my best for Him, Pah-rup-a-pum-pum,
me, I am overwhelmed, undone. God has given place in my abilities, that “security” is not Rup-a-pum-pum, Rup-a-pum-pum”
Himself. Christ was born, lived and died on security at all. That “security” will eventually let “Then, he smiled at me, Pah-rup-a-pum-pum,”
the Cross to bear the sins of the whole world, me down. “Me and my drum.”
But this is not just a musician’s problem. This is Chokes me up every time I sing it.
including mine! What can I possibly give God
when He has given me so much?
all of our problem. This is the human condition.
I don’t have anything to offer. I’m not We are all insecure apart from Christ. Yes, “The Wonderfully, graciously, lovingly, miraculously,
good enough. Little Drummer Boy” is a song about an insecure it turns out that God just wants me. Not my
musician, like me, but it’s actually about all of us performance.
insecure humans. Like me and like you. insecurities and the ways I don’t yet measure
Musicians are perhaps the most insecure
category of humans on the face of the planet.
With
all
my
imperfections,
up, He just wants me! This sounds too good to
Musicians seem to have a predisposition to get The Bible tells me that God, through Christ,
our sense of self-worth from what we do and will meet all my needs - including my need for
how well we do it. Yet, we allow ourselves to security.
be true, but it is true. What a relief!
It’s not about measuring up or achieving a
be placed on a “stage.” People are watching,
particular standard of excellence. It’s about the
listening and assessing us. There is pressure And my God will meet all your needs according posture of my heart towards Jesus. As I give
to “perform” and to measure up. Issues of to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. myself to Him, I find myself wanting to give the
personal insecurity are certain to be upon us. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) best of my talent, everything that I have and
I know. That’s me!
everything that I am. I discover that all I have
But, how do I place my security in Christ and is His anyway, and I am merely a steward; a
We tend to think that the musicians who have in Christ alone? How can I not derive a false caretaker. I am inspired to bring my “A” game
high levels of musical skill, talent, experience sense of security from anything else? Well, every time, but worry less about human
and so on, are secure or, if you’ll excuse the here’s where I’m at—the journey I’m on— assessment of my “performance—including
double negative, not insecure. We surmise and, in many ways, the realization that has set my own.
that it’s the less-skilled musicians who are me free:
under-confident, and therefore insecure. But
“And the things of earth
I disagree. I can’t. Both the accomplished musician and the less- This side of eternity, in my justified-but-not-yet- skilled musician tend to derive their sense of sanctified state, my sense of “security” will partly Here’s a newer version of "The Little Drummer
self-worth from what they can or cannot do, how be derived from worldly things and partly from Boy" for you to enjoy from for King & Country.
their ability compares to others, and whether Christ. I want all my security to be from nothing the “audience” appreciates their music. This but Jesus, but I’m not there yet. Only God, by goes deeper than just a sense of their value in His Spirit, can do this work in me. Ironically, the a musical sense. It can become our sense of realization that I am insecure (being honest with security and value as human beings! myself that some of my security is still based
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
on worldly things) has helped me find more
But misplaced security is actually insecurity.
security in Christ. That’s good news!
The confident musician may feel secure,
and the under-confident musician may feel Our little drummer boy comes face to face “The Little Drummer Boy”
insecure, but both are deriving their sense of with Jesus The Christ. He’s there to worship. [Words & Music © 1940 Katherine Kennicott Davis, Henry Onorati,
security from the things of “this earth” that He knows he must, but he feels like he’s got should never—and can never—inform us of nothing to offer. In a moment of inspiration, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
our true value. he offers what he can. He plays. He plays his [Words & Music © 1918 by Helen H. Lemmel]
little drum to the absolute best of his ability and
Ultimately, the only perfectly placed security is
Jesus smiles.
in Christ.
January 2020
& Harry Simeone]
Grant Norsworthy
Founder of More Than Music Mentor, providing
online and onsite training for the heart and the art
of worshipping musicians.
www.MoreThanMusicMentor.com
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