Our age rewards self-promotion. Social media celebrates personal brand-building; workplaces urge us to network, market ourselves, and curate a life others will admire. Even good things – sharing achievements, raising awareness, advocating for causes – can slip into subtle self-glory. For Christians, this culture can quietly shape how we live and even how we serve God.
Jesus warned about public religion done for applause. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them… when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets… But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4). The issue is not visibility but motive: are we seeking the Father’s delight or the crowd’s applause?
Paul wrestled with this too. Some preached Christ “out of selfish ambition” (Philippians 1:17). Yet Paul resolved, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 6:14). He knew the human heart loves praise, but the cross rewrites our value system. Our worth is secured by grace, not by likes or applause.
Living differently starts with honest self-examination. Why am I posting this? Why am I saying yes to this opportunity? Is it to love others and honour Christ, or to be admired? Honest prayer exposes mixed motives. David prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me.” (Psalm 139:23–24).
Choosing quiet faithfulness is a spiritual discipline. Serve without broadcasting. Celebrate others’ wins instead of curating your own highlight reel. Give generously where no one will know. Jesus promises the Father sees. Over time, secret obedience reshapes the soul, loosening pride’s grip.
At the same time, humility does not mean hiding gifts or refusing influence. Jesus said we are the light of the world and should let our light shine (Matthew 5:14–16). The difference is aim: shining so others see Him, not us. Paul urged Timothy not to neglect his gift but to use it for the church’s good. God gives talents to bless others; false humility can bury them.
Community protects us here. Friends who love Christ more than our image can ask hard questions: Are you serving or performing? Are you pointing to Jesus or to yourself? Healthy accountability turns the mirror back to Christ.
In a self-promoting age, believers who quietly serve, rejoice in others’ success, and use influence without ego offer a startling witness. John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30). That countercultural prayer still frees hearts today.
May we be content to be seen and known by God alone. May our lives point beyond our name to His. In the end, the applause that matters most will come from the Father who sees in secret and one day says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”