The Hypocrisy of Popularity

 

Luke 6:26 

King James Version

26 Woe unto you, 

when all men shall speak well of you! 

for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Do you really know if people genuinely care for you?

Would that be the amount of likes on social media?

Or high approval ratings on surveys?

Or the number of votes you got online?

Or the number of awards you've received?

Do those really give a true picture of your worth as a person?

Or are we deluding ourselves, and fattening other people's pockets, as they continue this illusion we have of ourselves?

Long after Jesus went back to the Father -- over 2,000 years now -- His Name lives on.

His Word lives on.

Do we have such a legacy?

Or are we so beholden to the world, we'll die of shame, if no one likes our posts or videos, the products or services we push, or even likes us for who they think we are?

Are we so addicted to the idea of being loved, liked, or being popular?

Can that ever compare to the love God gives you, freely, and perfectly, through His Son, Jesus?

Even if there was social media during the time of Jesus, do you think He'll latch on to it?

Or perhaps, He might lash at it, as He did when people turned His Father's house into a market place.

Matthew 21:12-13 (KJV)

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, 

and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, 

and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, 

and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, 

It is written, 

My house shall be called the house of prayer; 

but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Scripture has also likened our bodies with the temple of the Holy Spirit.

There can be no vanity, where Spirit is.

The Lord was not known to be popularity-hungry.

He was known to disappear when crowds spoke of His miracles.

He was particular what needed to be shared, or not, and instructed people accordingly.

And yes, He disappeared when they wanted to stone Him.

He was getting too popular, and powerful, for comfort.

Jesus never conceded to the world, for He knew who was prince of it.

He only cared to do the will of the Father.

We are all in great error, getting so neurotic about likes, or dislikes, looks, and lack of looks (or so we think).

Vanity's been eating us up for the longest time.

A sure tool of the devil.

Do we really believe everything others tell us?

Psalm 12:2 (KJV)

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: 

with flattering lips and with a double heart 

do they speak.

Is that how we are measured by God?

Of how good we look, how rich we are, how brainy we are, how famous we are?

He only cared we loved, and believed in His Son.

Where believing born agains are going, there is no social media.

There is no popularity contest.

There is no beauty, brains, big bucks contest.

There is only GOD, with JESUS at His right hand.

That's what I aspire for each day, before I expire.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

2 And be not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that ye may prove what is that good, 

and acceptable, 

and perfect, 

will of God.

Stop this madness right now.

Stop this demonic self-absorption.

The world only cares for us for two seconds.

God cares about us forever.

His LOVE is legendary.

1 John 4:9-10 (KJV)

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, 

because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, 

that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, 

not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us, 

and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Of course, I don't expect to be popular as I say this.

But then again, I serve the Lord.

And the Lord is not of this world.

Updated 26 January 2022