Making a Name for Ourselves

Taylor University honored Don Odle, their legendary 30-year head basketball coach, when he retired in 1979 by naming their basketball arena after him. Don was dead serious about basketball, but seldom took himself very serious. “You know why they named the arena after me?” he’d toss out, then answer, “Taylor didn’t have much money for lettering on the building, and my name was the shortest.” Don would then rear back with a wide-open-mouth laugh.

Somehow you just love people who are successful enough to get their name on a stadium or arena, but don’t flaunt their status. But Don’s ego has not always been prevalent in mankind’s history – not even in early history.

Earliest men

They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves . . .”  [Gen. 11:4]

Current men

And, Dubai said, “Let us build Burj Dubai [Burj Khalifa] 2,684 ft. high”

And, Miami said, “Let us build Miapolis 3,281 ft. high”

And, Dubai added, “Let us build 1 Dubai 3,281 ft. high”

And, Tokyo said, “Let us build Sky City 1000 3,281 ft. high”

And, Saudi Arabia said, “Let us build Kingdom Tower 3,281 ft. high”

And, Kuwait City said, “Let us build Burj Mubarak al-Kabir 3,284 ft. high”

And, Shanghai said, “Let us build Bionic Tower 4,029 ft. high”

And, Dubai added, “Let us build Nakheel Tower 4,593 ft. high”

And, an Italian architect said, “Let us build Millennium Challenge 6,076 ft. high”

Nine recent ego-architecture examples, “so that we may make a name for ourselves.”

Earliest men

The Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city  [Gen. 11:8]

Current men

In this ego-driven race – tallest tower = supremacy - all have put construction on hold

because of economic and political spasms. Burj Khalifa was finally dedicated in 2010.

A lesson for us?

Yes! Make a name for yourself – not with a tall tower, but with the Name that towers above every other name on earth.

“there is no other name under heaven given to men by which me must be saved”   [Acts 4:12].

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth”  [Philippians 2:9,10]

In partaking of the Lord’s Supper we humbly bow before our King of Kings, thankfully remembering his love and sacrifice for us, and our forgiveness and recommitment to him.

It’s not about us. It’s about Him, our Lord and Savior.