Hero or Celebrity

As I type these words, I am working on a Bible class that I am to begin teaching very soon. I am scheduled to teach seventh through twelfth grade young men some material that has a sort of dual purpose. The text of the class will be the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Since this is a Bible class, we will, of course, study the text itself.

There is a second and underlying consideration for this class as well. It is my prayer that the class will prepare them in some way to fulfill their God-given roles as leaders in the Lord’s church and in their homes.  

We hope to look at the facts presented in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah including how the narrative presented in these two books “fits in” with the chronology of the entire Bible, a look at some of the major (and minor) people in these books, and a host of other things. We also intend to consider such things as leadership styles, encouragement, discouragement, and many other topics.

In preparation for the class, I came across a quote that I hope will guide our thinking as we study the material. In fact, I hope that the quote will become a guiding principle in the lives of these young men.  

I wish that somebody had informed me of this quote when I was the age of the young men I will be teaching. If they had and if I had taken it to heart, I believe that my life would be much richer in all the right ways.

I found the quote on page 734 of The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (the Old Testament in One Volume). On that page, Mr. Wiersbe  attributes this quote to Daniel Boorstin:

“The hero was a big man, the celebrity is a big name.” 

It seems to me that we live in a society that is increasingly “celebrity driven.” We now even have a new “class” of people who are known as “influencers.”  I’m not quite sure about what all of that means, but, for the most part, it appears that this group is composed of people who have been described as “famous for being famous.” They make no real contribution to society (at least of a positive nature). They just show up at highly publicized events, have multiple pictures taken, make sure that what passes for a wardrobe gets maximum attention (often with minimal material), spout out the latest popular slogan or catchphrase, and then go on to the next “photo-op.” Of course, these people and others make sure that all of this is captured and shared by all of their followers and fans.  

While all of this is going on, there is a man who is doing his best to provide spiritual, moral, and material leadership for his wife and children. There are elders in the Lord’s church who spend time communicating with God by reading His word and praying to Him. They also spend time with the people with whom their spiritual well-being is entrusted. There are also preachers who struggle with how to best bring people into a relationship with Jesus and how to bring those who wear His name closer to Him.  

All of these men know that the decisions they make, the actions they take, and the words they say will not always meet with universal approval. In fact, at times, they may have to stand alone. As unpleasant as that experience is, their devotion to God will allow them to do nothing else or nothing less.  

The names of the celebrities are quickly recalled while their star is shining brightly and just as quickly forgotten when their popularity begins to wane. The names of the real heroes may not be known outside of their families or immediate circles of influence, but their names and their work is noticed by the One who will reward them. That reward will be much greater and will last much longer than a star on a sidewalk or inclusion in some “hall of fame.”

I’m praying that I can help a special group of young men to see the difference between being a hero and being a celebrity and that they will make the best choice for themselves. I’m praying that others (including me) will do that as well.

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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn