Chasing Fame

Read

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Think

In today’s world, fame seems to be the ultimate goal. CBS News recently interviewed members of Generation Z, and many expressed a desire for the fame that comes with social media stardom. One young man, Turner, gained over 600,000 TikTok followers by age 16, and his popularity led to brand deals and acting opportunities. “Every kid wants to be famous,” he joked. For many, fame represents success, freedom from the mundane, and validation. A recent study showed that over 50% of those surveyed wanted to become social media influencers. Fame has shifted from being the result of accomplishments to being an achievement itself.

This obsession with celebrity has been labeled the "cult of fame," and it’s easy to see why. In the past, people became famous for significant achievements—whether in sports, the arts, or public service. Now, many chase fame for its own sake. Madonna, once one of the most famous women in the world, captured this emptiness when she said, “I won’t be happy until I’m as famous as God.” Her words reveal the sad truth: human fame is a shallow and fleeting substitute for the true glory that belongs only to God. Fame may offer temporary validation, but it can never satisfy our deeper longing for meaning and significance.

True glory belongs to God alone. In Isaiah 42:8, God declares, “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Yet, how often do we chase after recognition, validation, and applause for ourselves? When we seek to elevate our names, we forget our true calling: to reflect God’s glory, not to absorb it. Worldly fame is temporary and empty, but living for the glory of God gives us a purpose that endures beyond any spotlight we might seek.

As society grows more self-obsessed, we need to ask ourselves: are we pursuing our fame, or are we pointing others to the One who deserves all the praise? Fame is fleeting, but God's glory is eternal. When we shift our focus from self-promotion to glorifying God, we find a deeper satisfaction that fame can never offer. Let’s reflect God’s light, not compete for his glory.

Apply

Take a break from social media or any platform where you seek validation or attention. Ask yourself, “Am I seeking to glorify myself or God in what I say and do?” Write down one specific way you can shift the focus from yourself to God.

Pray

God, help me to stop seeking the approval and praise of others, and instead focus on glorifying you in all that I do. Teach me to find my worth in you, not in fame or recognition. Show me how to point others to you and live for your glory, not my own. In Jesus’ name. Amen.