Don’t Believe Your Own Press Releases!
By Dean Collins
I’m no celebrity, and my fame stretches about as far as the width of the desk where I’m writing today. I’ve had a few brushes with national media and have been quoted in several well-known publications, but most of that happened during my years as president of Point University.
When you’re the president or CEO of an organization, it’s common to issue press releases about new initiatives, partnerships, grand openings, or other milestones. Occasionally those stories are picked up, and an interview follows. Years ago I made it a practice not to read those stories.
Part of the reason was practical—I usually felt too busy to spend time reading them. But there was another reason. I knew the temptation to become impressed with myself. Andy Stanley once said, “Your ego is not your amigo.” He was right. If we’re not careful, it’s surprisingly easy to start believing our own publicity.
Yet our culture often trains us to do exactly that.
In school we’re taught to build a résumé highlighting our accomplishments, skills, and achievements. During job interviews we are expected to present ourselves as the best candidate. A healthy confidence has its place.
Then we celebrate accomplishments at home. We cheer for our children’s athletic victories, musical performances, academic awards, and other successes. Today those celebrations often continue on social media, where everyone gets a carefully curated highlight reel.
None of these things are wrong. We all need encouragement, and recognizing the accomplishments of others is a wonderful gift. But somewhere along the way we must also learn the equally important virtues of humility and service. Do we spend as much time teaching those as we do celebrating achievement?
Scripture repeatedly warns us about the danger of seeking our own glory. Herod accepted the praise of the crowd until they declared he had “the voice of a god, and not of a man” (Acts 12), and his pride led to his downfall. Haman, in the book of Esther, desperately wanted to be the most honored man in the kingdom, only to discover how quickly pride can unravel. We can all think of modern examples—people in business, sports, politics, or entertainment who seem convinced the world revolves around them.
Psalm 115 offers a much healthier perspective:
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.”
What if we prayed those words every morning before walking out the door? Before the first meeting, the first conversation, or the first post on social media, what if we reminded ourselves that the goal of the day is not to make much of ourselves but to make much of God?
Jesus modeled that kind of life perfectly. He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The more we become like Jesus, the less concerned we’ll be with our own headlines and the more committed we’ll be to reflecting God’s glory and goodness. After all, the greatest stories are never about us. They are about what God is doing through ordinary people who are willing to serve Him.
So today, whatever successes come your way, remember this: don’t believe your own press releases. Give the glory to God.
Father, as we begin this day, we pause to give You praise and glory because of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness. Keep us from seeking our own recognition, and help us point others to You. May the example of Jesus fill our hearts and minds and lead us to serve someone today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 115:1-18 ESV
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