WF Pride

Recognition and Respect of Others

Chad Cottingham

In July of 2010, LeBron James made what is now called, ‘The Announcement’. ESPN and the rest of the sports media were summoned together to hear where LeBron was going to play basketball that season. It was a media spectacle. When he told the world he was going to play for the Miami Heat alongside Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, things didn’t go quite as planned for him. Rather than get the support and accolades he desired, he was criticized and ridiculed for the way in which he did it. It was all about him – for show. LeBron James created a lot of enemies on that infamous day. He eventually learned a lot from his youthful mistake and has since worked to erase that dreadful ‘Announcement’.

Do you know people who want all the recognition? Folks who demand the attention and respect of others? No don’t get me wrong, meaningful recognition is good. We all need to be recognized for a job well done. We could all benefit from appropriate attention and respect. But when someone does things for the recognition, it often has the same effect that LeBron James encountered. People get turned off.

Jesus talks about this very topic in Mathew 6:1-4. “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” ~NLT

“Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, thank you for the bible and all its instructions for life. Thank you that they are still as relevant today as they were 2000 years later. Help us to love and serve others with a generous heart and not out of a selfish desire for attention. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.”