The average life expectancy of humans globally is around 72.6 years according to United Nations. It may seem long for a teenager, but once you reach 30 you’ll realize that you’re almost half your life. Quite scary, isn’t it? That’s why some people spend a huge amount of money on various activities and spend a lot of time doing them. They want to make each day productive.
Unfortunately, not all people can do that. Some don’t have the resources and time to do such things because they are tied up with various responsibilities. Some work two or more jobs just to make ends meet. Their free time is allotted to resting because they’re exhausted. These people are the true heroes of our society because instead of making easy money, they stick to their morals and earn clean money. Just look at our nurses who sometimes work two shifts and sacrifice their social life just to make a living.
If you have the time and resources to do things you want in life, then you’re very fortunate. You must have accomplished so much in a year. But what really are accomplishments?
I remember this part of the Bible in the book of Mark chapter 12:
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
The poor widow was living in extreme poverty because the two small copper coins were everything she had. EVERYTHING SHE HAD. I cannot stress this more. The widow could not even eat three times a day, how could she do something else that she wanted?
Our lives are not defined by our own accomplishments, but it is defined by the accomplishments that God wants us to do.
Now, let’s go to the main topic I want to discuss. There is a thin line between being inspiring to others because of your accomplishments and bragging about them. If you’re the “successful” one, you might want to post your accomplishments on social media. The question is, why do you want to post it?
Remember that when you post on social media, it will be seen by all kinds of people. Rich people, poor people, people with disabilities, people who are struggling in life, people who are close to giving up. If you really want to help and inspire others, be sensitive to all kinds of people. Yes, you’re proud of your accomplishments and nobody is taking that away from you, but since you’re posting it on social media, you may already impact the lives of others, either positively or negatively.
We all become “social media influencers” once we post on social media. You become part of their lives. If you post your reviews of the restaurants you’ve been into, you may influence their choice of restaurants. If you post pictures of sceneries of various places you’ve been into, you may influence their travel plans.
However, in the end, it’s still your choice what to post. Most of the time, what you say reflects what’s in your heart. In Luke 6:45, it says “…for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” My ultimate advice is to observe humility at all times. Pride and vanity will never be constructive.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 (ESV)
Airqueselle 