Reaping Reputations

You sit at your computer, ready to click the awe-inspiring SUBMIT button that will put your manuscript before the eyes of an agent or editor. It’s exciting, relieving, an ‘at last’ moment.

And you are terrified.

What will he think of you? What if you left a glaring inconsistency on page 198? Or a few ridiculous typos? Or you could not get your synopsis to sound like more than a bunch of choppy sentences?

I’ve been there. I’m still there. In the past year that I’ve been getting editors’ feedback and pursuing publication, I have had to shove aside my self-consciousness and just click the button (often with the help of my oldest sister—literally).

The problem really boils down to this: for whom are you writing?

“Oh, I’m writing for God. I want to share His love and salvation and challenge others to seek Him more.”

Wonderful! That’s my own goal. So, if we’re writing for God’s glory, why are we so worried about our own? Because if God is backing your writing project, then He can take care of the details.

That’s not to say we don’t need to edit our manuscripts and make them the best we can. As Christians we cannot besmirch the name of Christ by slipshod writing and ideas that, unclearly expressed, bring confusion.

God gave us everything, and He deserves everything back. He put you on this earth and gave you a love for ink and paper. Are you really writing for Him?

When we seek our own glory, we are bound to fall in shame in the end.

‘When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.’ Proverbs 11

‘… for men to search their own glory is not glory.’ Proverbs 25

What does your reputation matter on this earth? In a few short years, we will go home to heaven—to dwell with our God forever and ever. Our little vapour of life here is to be used bringing Him glory and honour, showing others that He is a King worth living for.

‘Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake.’ Psalm 115

May we be channels only, and may others forget the channels, seeing only Him.

Τετελεσται!

T.R.Q.T.