This Little Light of Mine...

One of the earliest songs many of certain generations in the church learned was a little ditty known as, “This Little Light of Mine.” In many ways, the simplest children’s songs lay out the strongest truths. “This Little Light of Mine” implicitly tells the child they have the light of Christ and it is their responsibility to carry that light of Christ into the world. I thought of “This Little Light of Mine” as I prepared for today’s installment of LDL, for Jesus touches on something that is both tied to the truths of this song and some movements we are experience in our culture these days.

In a time where we are seeing folks awaken to the reality that every one of us has a platform, today’s lesson from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount seems absolutely apropos, for it deals with not only the reality that all of us DO have a platform, but also a word about checking our motivations for why we share.

Here’s Jesus as found in Matthew 6:2-4 -

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

I try to be a half-full kind of guy, so I’ve been looking long and hard at many of the movements that seem to be sweeping across the fruited plain over the last few months. While I have deep opinions about some of the views shared in these movements, as they have gone on I’ve come to realize that maybe a redemptive way to look at some of this is to quit focusing on that for which others are using their platform and instead start asking what it is that I am doing with my platform.

There have been times where I have heard these verses referred to as a command to not be showy about fulfilling the calling we all have to give alms. Yes, that is true…Jesus calls us to humility when it come to living out any of the disciplines one follows as a faithful disciple of Christ. However, to leave it there might be to leave it a little incomplete.

Why does he rip the hypocrites who are showy in their giving? Simple. The obligation and opportunity we all have to live out our walk with Christ is to live as the children’s song teaches - to let Christ’s light shine. When we make the practices of our faithfulness about showing to ourselves or others how faithful and pious we are, we are making it all about us instead of making it all about God. We are pointing to ourselves instead of to Christ’s goodness and love.

What is it, dear friends, that we are doing with our platforms? Are we letting the little light of Christ shine, or are we hiding it under a bushel so that folks see not Christ, but us?

Others are going to use their platforms for whatever are their passions. Rather than get too hot and bothered by how they are using their platforms, maybe we might be better off to be inspired by Jesus’ words and make sure we are being faithful to living the disciple’s life not so others see us, but that they might see God through us.