Using Our Platform for Good

Last night my family and I attended a concert together.

Well, maybe that’s too generous a statement. We all know that in 2020, “attended a concert together” means we all sat on the couch watching a livestream video while being distracted by our dog’s silly antics.

But hey – in 2020, we take what we can get, right? 

What was beautiful about this concert was that the band, Switchfoot, used a livestream platform not only to perform music for a virtual audience, but also to raise awareness (and more importantly, money) for education in third world countries.

During an intermission, they showed a video of a dad in Nicaragua who has lofty dreams for his adorable daughter. The organization being highlighted helped build and staff a school near the girl’s home, allowing her (and others in her village) the opportunity of a more promising future.

They then showed a Zoom call of the band interviewing one of the workers in Nicaragua, allowing the audience to see the personalities and hearts of all involved.

It was a truly beautiful moment. 

I, for one, was moved by a band who was using their platform to help make the world a better place.

For a brief minute, I even thought about learning how to play a guitar; you know, stardom can still be found after forty, right? Who doesn’t want to see a bald, spectacled man rocking the stage? 

Then reality hit and I realized I’m just not destined to be a world-changing rock star…

I genuinely admire those who are given a large platform and who use it for positive change. You probably do as well.

But then how do you feel when you wake up in the morning, and you head back to your office job, your delivery route, or your coffee roastery, and you are faced with your own insignificance?

God, if I just had a larger platform, then I would totally use it for good…

Ever found yourself saying that? 

Come on – be honest… Maybe you didn’t ask for a larger platform, but maybe you asked for a larger paycheck, or a better job, better friends, or maybe a different family.

Fill in the blank.

We’ve all bargained with God. Something like: you give me this, and I’ll return the favor by giving you that.

Here’s the deal: It doesn’t work that way.

Can you imagine if we were all rock stars?

Who would be left to attend our virtual events?

What if, instead of wishing for our circumstances to be different, we just decided to offer up our little? 

What if we decided to be faithful with the platform, the paycheck, the relationships that we already have? 

Imagine with me for a moment, that I choose to be faithful with the small amount I have, making my little world a better place.

Imagine you do the same.

Imagine that the knucklehead who works next to you does the same.

Each of us offering our little, using what we’re given, no matter how small, to bless others. 

You: blessing others.

Me: blessing others.

Others: blessing others.

Can you see the potential? A little good out of your little, blessing others, who are also blessing others out of their little.

Can you see it?

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that the world could really use a healthy dose of blessing right now.

Don’t wait until your circumstances improve to start blessing others.

Do it now.

I’ll do it too.

And maybe your neighbor will as well.

And after a little while, we’ll have so much blessing flowing around that the world will actually become a better place.

Because blessing others isn’t reserved for the rock starts among us.

That responsibility falls on all of us.

And you don’t need a stage or a microphone to get that process started.

All you need to do is to take a step.

You ready?