Hey Christians: It's Okay to Be Awesome

Tell me if this ever happens to you.

Johan Wieland (CC)

You do something well: sing in church, hit a home run, or cook a delicious bass. Afterward someone says to you, “Great job! That was awesome!” To which you respond:

aw, it was nothing.

Have you ever said that?

If so, it’s time to stop.

Whether you really mean it or you’re just effecting false modesty, your aw shucks approach is doing a major disservice to you, to the world, and most importantly to God.

Now, I’m not saying that humility isn’t important. It is. But we’re talking about modesty here. What’s the difference?

Humility entails a proper perception of worth. Yes, you’re valuable in the eyes of God, but no more valuable than your neighbor. Lack of humility is associated with pride and arrogance—a couple of things God detests.

But modesty? (And no, we’re not talking about yoga pants.) Modesty has to do with how you measure your abilities. In other words:

You don’t have value because you can do awesome things, you have value because God made you in His image and He loves you.

As long as you acknowledge that, you’re good. But if you’re deriving value from your abilities, that’s when you start getting into trouble. And if you think your only two options are puffed up pride or extreme modesty when it comes to your skills, then by all means choose modesty. Pride is wicked deadly. In fact, C. S. Lewis calls pride the worst of all sins, writing that it "leads to every other vice." But may I suggest a third option?

What if, when someone praised you on a job well done, you just said, "Thanks"? If you just said, “Yeah, that was pretty awesome, huh?” Because you know those special abilities you have? God gave them to you.

Therefore being embarrassed or ashamed of your skills isn’t a proper response to excellence. Instead we must utilize our talents for His glory, all the while acknowledging Him as the source.

I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s okay to be awesome. In fact, I think it’s a Biblical mandate. Too many Christians think they shouldn’t be amazing at something because doing so deflects the glory from God. But—if done with a proper attitude—awesomeness actually reflects God’s glory, transforming you into a beacon for Christ.

So don’t deflect or diminish the gifts God has given you. Instead use them as an entry point to reveal His greatness to the world.

Remember, you are the light of the world, but He supplies the fuel.

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