The Guitarist We Should All Surpass

August 02, 2023

I’m about to get real with you, so buckle up.  Some of these episodes are practical, some are inspirational, and others are meant to challenge your character.

 

This is one of those character-challenging episodes.

But if you’re receptive to what I have to share today, this episode has the potential to sharpen you.

 

It’s designed for followers of Christ who desire to “run the race in such a way as to get the prize” – as 1 Corinthians 9:24 commands us.

I’ve been in the “Guitar Game” for almost 30 years. 

 

That is to say, I’ve been playing this instrument onstage, offstage, in the studio, by myself, in bands, as a worship leader, a songwriter, and a variety of other roles, to say nothing of the teaching opportunities I’ve had along the way, as I now lean full-tilt into equipping others to play this amazing instrument through my unique online experience at GuitarSuccess4U.

 

I count it a privilege to have had these many experiences.

 

But there’s something I’ve battled to this day in terms of my pursuits and abilities.  And it’s the struggle that comes with peripheral vision. 

 

That’s not a good thing to struggle with when you’re running a race.

 

Basically, I look to the side and see where people are on their guitar and musical journeys, and I get envious, arrogant, or even lazy.  I take my eye off the prize.

Which of these three characteristics is attractive, or brings glory to God?

None of them.

 

I’m basically a hot mess at times, but the Lord can use anything, even my failures, for His glory.  And I hope He does something here, so that’s why I’m stringing these words together.

 

I’ll unpack each of these three traits – envy, arrogance, and laziness, from the perspective of a guitarist who ultimately wants to bring glory to God.

 

Envy

The Bible is clear that we are not to envy others.  In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verses 21-23, Jesus warns us that from out of a person’s heart come evil thoughts, including envy.  He says these “vile” things “defile” us.

 

That’s pretty strong language, but I believe it’s meant to get our attention.

 

Wanting what someone else has, whether possessions or abilities, takes us nowhere good.

 

So if there’s another guitarist out there who plays a nicer guitar, plays more skillfully, or is in higher demand as a performer, worship leader, or teacher than I am, it’s not fruitful to want to be as good or better than they are.

Even if I work hard and practice hard, and do everything in my power to excel, if it’s motivated by a desire to surpass those I envy, it’s not coming from the right motivation, and therefore does not honor the Lord.

 

This is easy to say, but harder to live out, as are many simple things of this nature.  But being envious takes my eye off the prize.

 

So that’s the envy factor.  On the other side we have…

 

Arrogance

If you’ve ever met someone who’s outwardly and blatantly arrogant, you know how repulsive it can be to interact with them, especially if they profess to know the Lord.

 

But there’s an inward arrogance that I can sometimes keep cloaked and hidden, and it’s even more insidious and ugly.  Allow me to explain.

 

When I hear another guitarist play who is less skilled than I am, there are times when I am somehow tempted to say to myself “Well, at least I’m better than that guitarist.”

 

Saying or thinking this may give me a short-term boost of artificial confidence, but let me tell you, that feeling wanes quickly in the light of the fact that I know, in my heart of hearts, that this displeases the Lord as well.

 

I again go back to Mark, chapter 7, verses 21-23, and what do I find, right there in the same passage about envy?  Arrogance.  It’s stacked up right there, along with several other unattractive traits.

 

Yeah, arrogance does not serve anyone.  It creates a false sense of self-worth, based entirely on pride and the belief that I am somehow better than someone else.

 

Objectively speaking, I may have a more valuable guitar, or I may be better practiced, or more confident, or have more tour dates or more guitar students than someone else I see out there, but so what?  It’s really not important.

 

And did you know that envy and arrogance can be combined?  I can literally think “I really wish I was as good at such-and-such as that person, but at least I’m better than them at this-and-that.”  Yeah, not healthy at all.

 

I’ve taken my eye off the prize again.

 

So, arrogance does not serve me, and does not honor the Lord.

 

Laziness

There are many Proverbs in the Bible that speak to the subject of laziness, but I’ll hone in on one that creates a rather vivid image.  Proverbs 26:15 says, “A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.”

 

What an image, right?  Imagine someone who wanted to eat their food that way.  They wouldn’t really get a whole lot of nourishment, would they? 

 

Well, if my hands are idle like that, I won’t make the progress I long to make as a musician, on any level.

 

Fortunately, the value of hard work has been “baked into” my upbringing.  My father taught me the value of a good work ethic even from an early age, leading by example with integrity in a career that was entirely commission-based.

 

And there’s an entire spectrum of work ethic, from doing nothing, to working way too many hours and forsaking family time.  It’s about a balance.

 

But in some musical endeavors, I’ve been lazy.

 

Sometimes, it’s because I’ve thought to myself that some of my ministry work wasn’t that important, which is deceptive, because Kingdom work is always important.

 

Sometimes, my laziness crops up, because when envy kicks in, I somehow subconsciously think to myself “I’ll never be as good as that guy, or that gal, so I may as well not put in the work.”

And this form of self-sabotage manifests itself in the form of missed practice sessions, or “phoning it in” when I really could put in more effort.

 

But in my laziness, I might get passed up by a less-skilled guitarist.

So, then another problem appears.  Because if I then decide to attempt to be less lazy, but only to avoid being passed up by someone, that’s the wrong motivation as well!

 

Laziness also takes my eye off the prize, because I’m no longer “pressing on toward the goal” (as Philippians 3:14 calls us to).

 

So laziness takes me nowhere good.

 

Three Antidotes

Let’s now talk about the antidote we can each take in, to help us overcome envy, arrogance and laziness.

 

The antidote to envy is gratitude.  We can be grateful for what we have, where we’re at, and – wait for it – we can even be grateful that the Lord has blessed someone else with their gifts and success.  This includes gratitude for what the Lord has given to secular musicians. 

God can use anything.  If I’m discontent about something, especially if it’s because I’m envious, all it takes is a bit of gratitude to steer me right back on course. 

 

We have a framed quote at home that says “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

Wow.  Let that sink in.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

If it’s God’s will, we would do well to do that, right?

 

Next, the antidote to arrogance is humility.

 

Genuine, sincere humility is the opportunity to think less of ourselves, even when the temptation is there to do the opposite.

 

When people have praised me for my musical gifts, I try to direct the praise upwards, by way of a hand gesture pointing to the Lord as the Giver of my gifts. 

 

But I can also sincerely thank them for their affirmation, as I am a steward of those gifts.

 

Philippians 2:3 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

 

Someone once told me that the opposite of faith isn’t doubt – it’s confidence in the flesh.  I don’t know if that resonates with you, but the idea of exalting myself is really a way of taking from God’s glory.

 

So, humility is the sure method of combating arrogance.

 

In terms of laziness, the antidote for that is hard work, but with one qualifier: as unto the Lord.  I may unpack those four words in a future episode of Guitar Serious Fun, but let me first quote Colossians 3:23-24:

 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

 

Mic drop. 

 

If I’m serving Christ with my gifts, I would do well to work hard for His glory.  And then the laziness factor gets put in check.

 

Not of This World

Years ago, a friend gave me a copy of Petra’s album “Not of This World,” and the title song reminded me that we are strangers and aliens here.  So our behavior should look different from those who don’t know Christ.

 

In the secular world, envy, arrogance and laziness are common.

 

There can also be a “corporate ladder” feel to the pursuits of a secular musician.  They can pursue accolades, sponsorships, renown, and a social media following with viral responses, ultimately leading to more income.

 

We can lean into our good work, too, but we need to have the right moral compass.  Is it wrong to work hard?  No.  Is it wrong to have a solid social media following?  No.

 

The soul-searching questions of “why do you do this, and for whom” can shed a lot of light here.

 

And if our eye is on the prize, we can, by God’s grace, keep things in balance.

 

The Guitarist We Should All Surpass

Now we get to the crux of our discussion.  It’s become very clear to me that…

 

There will always be someone better at guitar. 

 

There will always be someone who is not as gifted at guitar. 

 

There will always be someone who works harder than we do.  And… 

 

There will always be someone who doesn’t work as hard as we do.

 

As long as I’m living on planet Earth (and I don’t foresee us colonizing Mars any time soon), I will be here with a lot of people.  And rather than give in to the struggle that comes with peripheral vision, I can focus on the prize, and what the Lord desires of me.

 

And now, things get really simple.  Because although there will always be someone better, or not as gifted, or who works harder, or doesn’t work as hard as me, each of these facts becomes irrelevant.

This happens when we identify the guitarist we would do well to surpass in all of these categories.

 

I’ll now speak directly to you, and who you would do well to surpass.

It’s someone I suspect you know.

 

It is: the guitarist you were…yesterday.  That’s it. 

 

Work hard to surpass where you were yesterday in all these areas.  Be grateful when you cross new frontiers.  Be ambitious.  Find joy, or even serious fun on the journey.  And give yourself grace, knowing that it is Christ whom you are serving.

 

Don’t look to the side and give in to peripheral vision.  Take it from someone who has wasted a lot of time doing that.  Look ahead and run the race well.

 

And if you find along the way that you need to do business with the Lord, take a break, leave your gift at the altar, and go be reconciled to your brother, or confess to the Lord, and then come back and offer your gifts some more.

 

Keep your eye on the prize.

 

Wrap-Up

Well, I hope this discussion blessed and challenged you.

 

Now, you may be thinking, “Dude, you’re like, bearing your soul here.  That’s awfully personal.”  Yes, I agree, but if this podcast is designed to enhance your guitar journey, transparency can be a part of that, with a view to sharpening you. 

Again, if you’re offering your gifts to the Lord, and I am as well, could it be a blessing for me to share with you what has inhibited my offerings, and what has allowed me to overcome those challenges?

 

I think so. 

 

I welcome your comments and thoughts, and if you’re looking for like-minded followers of Christ to run the race with as you discover your guitar gifts, I invite you to check out GuitarSuccess4U.com. 

 

If you’ve heard my heart a bit in these words, you’ll know that more of this, as well as lighthearted thoughts, and amazing battle-tested guitar tools are waiting for you when you join us. 

GuitarSuccess4U isn’t for everyone, but if you consider yourself to be grateful, humble, and you’re willing to put in a realistic amount of work to claim your definition of guitar success, you are welcome in our tribe.

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time.