The Art of Decreasing

The great principle in all matters is, “Not ‘I,’ but ‘Christ.’” —Johnny Cash 

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” —John 3:30 ESV 

John the Baptist was a pretty big deal in first-century Israel. He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy as the forerunner of Christ. He built a large following with his baptism ministry in the wilderness. His unusual style of dress and eating habits increased his notoriety. And when Jesus began His public ministry, He sought out John to baptize Him. 

The temptation for John to embrace and capitalize on his fame must have been enormous. Certainly his followers were eager for him to do just that. But John understood his place. More importantly, he understood Jesus’ place. 

When his followers complained that Jesus’ ministry was drawing people away from his own, John showed his remarkable grasp of God’s plan. He also showed remarkable understanding of how to find ultimate fulfillment and joy in life. 

John’s reply to his disciples concerning Jesus—“He must increase, but I must decrease”—shares spiritual DNA with the guiding principle of Johnny Cash’s life—“Not I, but Christ.” Both acknowledge that we were never meant to be at the top of our own priority list. That’s not where God intends us to be. If we try to occupy that position, our relationship with Christ will suffer. We will miss out on the fulfillment and joy that He has in store for us. 

So we must learn to rethink the way we approach daily life. Our desire to pursue our own agenda must decrease; our desire to pursue the Lord’s will must increase. Our willingness to give in to temptation must decrease; our God-honoring self-control must increase. Our concerns about what other people will think of us must decrease; our efforts to deepen our relationship with the Lord must increase. 

If we look to John the Baptist as a role model, we should also be aware that the process of decreasing himself and increasing Jesus was a struggle even for him at times. John faced a tough road. His fearlessness in his ministry got him in trouble. Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, imprisoned the prophet for condemning Herod’s marriage to his brother’s former wife. John languished in jail for over a year. During that time, he wrestled with doubt. He also learned that most people in the region had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. 

He sent disciples to ask Jesus one very specific, very pointed question: Are You who You claim to be? He was ready to give Jesus first place in his life—after he got some reassurance from the Lord. 

Jesus didn’t object to the question. He didn’t excoriate John for his doubt. 

Instead, He offered the reassurance that John was looking for. He said what He needed to say to comfort John and to prove Himself worthy of being given first priority in John’s life. 

He does the same for us. Reducing our role in our own lives is a tall order. 

Jesus understands that. He spent thirty-three years as a human, dwelling on earth with us. He experienced what we experience. So He’s ready with reassurances, as well as with rewards, when we put Him first. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us an example in Your Word of how to put Jesus first in our lives. Give me the wisdom to recognize when there is too much “I” in my priorities. Help me learn to decrease in a way that honors You so that Christ can increase in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

This is an excerpt from Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth and Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash a new devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.