Our Favorite Bible Stories (pt. 5)

Editor’s Note: All Scripture is “God-breathed and useful” for us (2 Tim. 3:16), but there are passages that seem to stick with each of us in special ways for various reasons. Our Arrowhead Church staff has been asked to share their favorite Bible stories or passages and write about why that portion of Scripture is so meaningful to them. Today’s entry is from Chris Shumate.

He Must Increase

Though I haven’t always been able to identify a favorite Bible verse, one that has really stood out to me over the last several years is John 3:30 - “He must increase, but I must decrease.” These words were spoken by one of my favorite figures in the whole Bible - John the Baptist.

John has always intrigued me. Not only was he a quirky character who wasn’t afraid to stand up to authority, but he was also used by God in amazing ways. Great crowds went out to the wilderness to hear John preach (Mk. 1:5), and he even had the unique privilege of baptizing Jesus (Mk. 1:9). In John 5:35, Jesus says that John was a “burning and shining lamp.” When even Jesus has such a high opinion of you, it would be easy to become proud. We might expect John to have had an overinflated sense of his own worth, but he understood that while his ministry was valuable and impactful, it wasn’t about him. Jesus was the true light of the world, but he just a lamp whose job was to “bear witness about the light” (Jn. 1:7-9).

When John spoke these now famous words, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” he was responding to some of his disciples who were concerned with the growing popularity and influence of Jesus. They had said to John, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” Although these disciples didn’t realize it, this had been the goal all along. John never intended to draw people to himself but to point them to Jesus.

There’s no doubt that this perspective is counter-cultural and cuts against the grain of our fleshly impulses, but I believe that John’s attitude should be that of all Christ-followers. Our job is to point others to Jesus, and we can’t do that as we should if we act like it’s all about us. John’s words are a reminder to me that I exist for God’s glory, not my own. When I remember that, I’m more likely to speak up about what He’s done for me, humbly serve others, and leverage everything I have for His purposes.

This mindset also changes the way we approach the difficulties of life. When I remember that it’s not about me and that I’m actually supposed to decrease, I can endure suffering with a different perspective. I can accept being overlooked, insulted, and even mistreated because God can use that to help me grow smaller. If God uses those hardships to help me decrease so that He may increase, I should rejoice!

May God help all of us who follow Jesus display the humble attitude of John the Baptist. When we do so, our Lord is honored, our pride is cut down, and the world can see the difference Jesus makes in our lives.

To learn more about the importance of humility, check out this sermon on the spiritual discipline of service.