Being Made Much of

What an important question it is:

"Do you feel more loved by God because he makes much of you, or because, at great cost to himself, he frees you to enjoy making much of him forever?"

It is true that God makes much of us! There is nothing wrong with that. But our answer to the above question reveal the basis of our happiness, the foundation of our joy. Being made much of reveals our self-centeredness, while making much of Him reflects God-centeredness. Some paraphrase to the question above that would help in our reflection are:

"Are we more satisfied praising Him or being praised?"

"Is the deepest basis of our joy God's greatness or our greatness?"

"Are we God-centered because of His surpassing value or because He highlights my surpassing value?"

"Is my deepest desire to see God or to be God?"

"They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, "

~ Galatians 4:18 (ESV)

The above translation as I learnt with the help of John Piper is that the phrase "made much of" is not really accurately translated from the original Greek manuscript. The more appropriate translation carries the meaning of "being sought after".

"They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you."

~ Galatians 4:18 (NASB)

The whole point of Paul talking about "being eagerly sought" is not to proclaim our own greatness but rather, to be attractive, appealing, magnetic, contagious as to be imitated, as we imitate Christ.

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."
~ 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)