There is a television show playing this week called American Idol. Thousands of people are trying to be the best singer in a competition to win prizes. However, it is amazing how terribly some of them sing. Maybe they do not realize how awful they should.Others clearly have no hope of winning the competition; they are only doing something outrageous in order to get on television for a few seconds. Of course, there are quite a few of these "reality shows" on television these days on which people are willing to be made fools of in order to be seen on television (and possibly to become famous for a few moments).
Some people will do anything for a little notoriety.This reminded me of an even more outlandish case from history. The temple of Artemis (also known as Diana) in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (see Acts 19:27). From what the history books say about it, the temple must have been fantastic. It was destroyed more than once, first by Herostatus in 356 B.C. History says that e burned it to the ground in order to make a name for himself, that is, to make sure that his name would go down in history.Sadly, we could list many such instances throughout history. The search for fame has left many destroyed lives and dead bodies in its wake
What soem people are willing to do for fame is mind boggling. No wonder the apostle warned each of us, "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Romans 12:3) and another warned "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but isof the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:16-17).
Let us make sure that our motives are pure and that we are not hurting others or the church simply to get some recognition for ourselves.
Source:
Illustrations That Illustrate, The World Evangelist, Feb. 2002, p. 17.
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