He must increase, but I must decrease. Jn 3:30 (NKJV)
I used to think this meant I had to lay down ALL of me – every hope, dream, plan, talent… Give it up, surrender it… Empty myself of me so God could fill me with His goodness. I obsessively asked, “WWJD?” about everything… I lost my sense of self, and my confidence plummeted. If I needed to decrease, get small, shrink down, it must mean that I am not good enough, right?
Wrong.
This verse has little to do with any of that.
One day, Jesus and John the baptist were baptising people in the same lake. More people were flocking to Jesus than were to John and John’s disciples were jealous. They whinged to John, but he remained calm and confident. He explained to them that his purpose was to herald Jesus, to make a way… And that his job was done. Now it's Jesus time to baptise and teach… fulfil the prophecies of old… John passes the baton on – “He must increase, I must decrease…”
He says “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.”
John is addressing comparison. His disciples were jealous that Jesus was attracting a greater crowd, and John was responding with confidence. It's not about who gets the biggest crowd… It's about being true to yourself, true to your calling and finding great joy in being all YOU, empowered by Jesus. It's not less of you, more of Jesus in the sense that you are inherently horrid. The way to your best self is to be Christ centred – Jesus at the centre of it all. Don’t delete yourself to add Him in, but gather all that you are, every nook and cranny of your life and ADD Jesus to it. He fulfils you, not subtracts you.
Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Stop comparing yourself to those around you… let Jesus do His job – empower you, guide you, heal, speak, redeem… and start doing your job, which is to believe and walk by faith. He must increase – let him move into his role; I must decrease – know your call, know yourself… and stick to it. Don’t compare yourself, but let your joy be complete in knowing Jesus.
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