{"id":3338,"date":"2015-11-09T16:34:38","date_gmt":"2015-11-10T00:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eaf.net\/mvp\/?p=3338"},"modified":"2015-11-09T16:41:30","modified_gmt":"2015-11-10T00:41:30","slug":"i-must-decrease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eaf.net\/mvp\/2015\/i-must-decrease\/","title":{"rendered":"I Must Decrease"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I’ve been there and done that,” I think to myself. “I’ve done what he’s doing and been what he is.”<\/p>\n

“I’ve been there and done that,” I think to myself.<\/div>\n

But times change and needs change. As does standing. As do positions, assignments, and responsibilities. And when the time comes for me to give up long-held things like that, I want to remember again what John the Baptist said: “He must increase, but I must decrease”<\/span> (John 3:30).<\/p>\n

I remembered it when I resigned as principal of “my” school.<\/p>\n

I remembered it when I encouraged another friend to assume a calling that would diminish “my” role.<\/p>\n

I hope I remember it when I’m replaced as chairman of the board I’ve “headed” for over 19 years. <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
\n“He humbled himself”<\/em> (Philippians 2:8)<\/div>\n
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”<\/div>\n

I purpose to maintain that perspective. But I want it to be more than a mere statement of realism — “it’s just the way life goes,” you know.<\/p>\n

And I want it to be much more than acceptance of the inevitable.<\/p>\n

I want it to be the submissive recognition of the wise will of my sovereign God, the One who knows all things and does all things well.<\/p>\n

I want it to be the humble commitment to the success of another.<\/p>\n

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”<\/div>\n

As I ponder this matter, I realize a range of things can make this increase-decrease business difficult.<\/p>\n