To The Unknown Bible Scholar

"rendering honor to whom honor is due" 

(Rom. 13:  7)

The apostle Paul says that he, like many Christians and servants of God, described himself "as unknown, and yet well known" (II Cor. 6: 9). Paul was relatively unknown to the world, as least when he was traveling around heralding the good news. He was even slighted by the elites, by the Sophists, thinking Paul was a nobody, someone without fame. But God, who chooses the base things of the world to confuse and bewilder the world's elites, therefore chose those who were relatively so to be his apostles. Yes, Paul was well educated, but he was relatively unknown outside of the Jewish nation. The apostle John chimes in saying that because believers in Jesus are "called children of God" that "the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." (I John 3: 1 nkjv) Every believer is well known by God and heaven's citizens, even though most of them live and die relatively unknown. Of course, it is one thing to "know" someone on a shallow level and to know one on a deeper level. 

Paul gave an apologetic discourse from the inscription written on an idol in Athens, Greece which said "to the unknown god." Well, not only is there an "unknown god" but there are also millions of unknown children of God. I often think of the numerous believers who have lived and died without having achieved any recognition, especially those who had been scholars of the word, and wrote many good articles, but they are lost and no one knows of their writings. Were it not for today's technology, and Internet, my own writings would probably be lost in oblivion with that of many other believers. Just like many nations have monuments to "the unknown soldier" so does the Christian community have many such. 

Solomon said - "A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men." (Prov. 18: 16 nkjv) Over the years I have pondered on this proverb many times. If a person has a gift for music, art, science, etc., he or she will often attain to fame and get recognition from the world and from great men. But, what about great preachers and theologians? Yes, some became well known to the Christian community, but just as many have remained relatively unknown. 

There have been times in my life when I have felt a good bit dishonored and disrespected by the Christian community. I feel like comedian Rodney Dangerfield who used to say "I get no respect" when giving his comedic monologue. No doubt other laborers in the kingdom of God have felt the same. The above verse, along with others we will cite, tells us that we should not put so much concern about receiving honor, glory, recognition, or approval from others, from the world, or even from the Christian community. Above all we should greatly desire God's approval and the Lord Jesus Christ' approval.

I think about all those servants of God who labored hard for many years in the service of the Lord and yet received little recognition by others. Many such servants got little attention while other servants, often not as gifted, got lots of attention. However, let us notice some things the word of God tells us about this lack of approval. Wrote the apostle Paul:

"for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men." (Rom. 14: 17-18 nkjv)

This text assures us that service to Christ will not go unrewarded or unnoticed. It does not assure us, however, that service to Christ will be recognized by many. Notice these words of the prophet: "The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart" (Isaiah 57: 1 nkjv). Not only are many righteous people not recognized by men in their life's work for Christ during their lives, but also are not recognized in their deaths. 

Now let me cite from an audio Transcript of John Piper's remarks on what I am talking about (See here).

"How should we respond when we are unappreciated? It’s a question we all face. We want to excel. We want to be noticed. We want to be thanked. We want our efforts to be valued. It’s only natural. And instead of telling us to get used to being unappreciated, God actually gives us some incredible promises that we are being appreciated in ways we may have never expected."

I agree. I also think of these verses from the Gospel of John:

"Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." For even His brothers did not believe in Him." (John 7: 2-5 nkjv)

Jesus was not seeking worldly honor and fame. Though his family urged him to make himself known or to get himself fame, yet we read elsewhere these words about his family rejecting him: "Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country." (Luke 4: 24 nkjv)

The Bible says that seeking fame can be sinful if it's done for the wrong reasons. However, it can be right to want to be influential if it's done to glorify God. 

In the bible we see how seeking fame for the wrong reasons is condemned. In Matthew 6:1 Jesus said that we shouldn't practice righteousness simply to be seen by others.  In James 4:3 we read about people often wanting fame in order to glorify themselves.  Proverbs 25:27 tells us that it's not glorious to seek worldly glory.  Yet, seeking fame for the right reasons is allowed. Matthew 5:16 says that we should let our good works to shine so others can glorify God.  Psalm 37:4 indicates that if we seek God's fame, he will direct us in the way he chooses.

Seeking God's Recognition

"For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends." (II Cor. 10: 18 nkjv)

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Tim. 2: 15 nkjv)

This is the recognition that we should seek above all. Though others may forget our labors in Christ, yet the Lord will not forget and those labors will be forever remembered and honored by him. Testified Paul:

"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb. 6: 10)

Remember that Jesus said that believers, especially those who "labor in the word and doctrine" (I Tim. 5: 17), should not cover up their labors.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5: 16 kjv)

That is what I pray about when I pray for those who read our blogs, that they will "glorify" God by what they read, and that they will be edified.

I recall Elder Sonny Pyles preaching a sermon titled "the little people of the bible." He referred to Romans chapter sixteen where Paul spends a good bit of time saying "salute" so and so, and he would name these persons and perhaps say a thing or two about them. And, the interesting thing is, these people are mostly unknown people, only being mentioned by Paul in this chapter. It is interesting also to see what short one liners Paul uttered in regard to them. We can say that they were "unknown but known."