He must increase
John the Baptist steps aside
John the Baptist had crowds, disciples, and a movement. When his followers came worried that everyone was now going to Jesus instead, John gave one of the most secure answers in Scripture: he must increase, but I must decrease. He had always known his role was to point away from himself.
Far from threatened, John was fulfilled. His joy, he said, was now complete — like the best man rejoicing at the bridegroom's voice. He measured his success not by how much attention he gathered, but by how much he could redirect to Christ.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John the Baptist — John 3:30 (WEB)
Lead so that Christ increases as you decrease. Measure success by how much attention you redirect from yourself to him.
“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”
John found joy, not threat, in decreasing so Christ could increase. A leader formed here is secure enough to point away from himself. He measures success by redirected attention, not gathered acclaim. The inner work is wanting Christ's increase more than your own.
Point people to Christ rather than to yourself, and count it joy when they go to him. Refuse to feel threatened when attention shifts away from you. Develop others and celebrate their rise rather than guarding your prominence. Treat decrease as success when it means Christ increases.
Leaders crave increase — attention, credit, prominence — and feel threatened when it shifts elsewhere. The blind spot is pursuing your own increase when your calling is to decrease so Christ may increase.
Notice where you crave more attention or credit this week. In one such place, deliberately redirect it to Christ or to someone else, and practice the joy of decreasing.
Leaders are wired to want increase — more attention, more credit, more prominence. John's greatness was that he wanted to decrease, so that Christ could increase, and he counted that decrease as joy, not loss.
Does your leadership leave people more impressed with you, or more drawn to Christ — and are you content to decrease so that he increases?