I want my resources to serve people not platforms
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 2:19–20
All the resources I make will fade. But the people won't. So if what I make can help people to live for Jesus, then I'll glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes. I won't be saying "look at what I made" but "look at what he has done in them!" They (the people) will be my glory and joy. So I want my resources to serve people. However, this same purpose must also urge me to be careful of making the resources serve my platform (or that of anyone other than Jesus). Let me explain.
In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul shows what living for King Jesus as the centre of everything will look like: deeply loving others by urging them to live for Jesus. You could be fooled into thinking that in these verses he makes people the centre of everything rather than Jesus. But reading the first two chapters quickly removes that thought. He delights in God's work in them, constantly giving him the credit and praise (see 1 Thessalonians 1). Then he says:
"We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts."1 Thessalonians 2:4b
Let me be honest. I love getting credit for making something good. But it can make me feel uncomfortable because I see something of the darker parts of my heart. I find myself being drawn both towards pleasing people and making myself the centre. I'm then tempted to build my own platform so people can see how great I am. God keeps testing my heart in this way. I've seen how God uses things that I make to serve others—all glory be to Christ for that!
So instead of seeking to please people, I want to love them, sharing not just God's word but my life as well. As a good father loves his children, I want all my resources to encourage, comfort and urge people to live lives worthy of God, who calls them into his kingdom and glory (adapting 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12). Will you hold me accountable to this? And help me achieve it?
Here are some of the principles that I'm starting with to make sure my resources serve people not platforms.
1. Make what serves rather than what sells
Like Paul, I don't want to peddle God's word, for the sake of my own spiritual health as well as the healthy reception of the message. So I don't want my first thought to be "will it pay for itself?" (which everyone in publishing will tell you is almost impossible to avoid) but "will it serve people well?". Will it help people to live for Jesus? Will it provide for spiritual need?
2. Develop with accountability rather than arrogance
I love wondering about what the issues are and coming up with ideas for how to respond to them with the abilities that I have. But I'm also aware that I need help, particularly to discern if the problems and my solution ideas are not only legitimate but the best use of time and resources. Accountability will always help me produce better resources. So I want to encourage, initiate and pursue helpful research and development with those with expertise such that appropriate priority can be given to the resources that will best serve people.
3. Distribute to bless rather than burden
I want my resources to get to the people who need them. The distribution process is often filled with hurdles that make this difficult. In today's market where most resources are sold, at least one of these will be financial. Someone always needs to pay the cost (in money and time). So, as much as possible, I'll seek to adapt the distribution process so that the 'cost' is assumed by those who can bear it, rather than a burden to those who need the resource. So I'll first pursue funding the development of a resource (myself or through raising support) in order to have the possibility of distributing for free, and then only put a price tag in necessary circumstances (when discerned with accountability).
4. Promote through people rather than platforms
This is very similar to principle 3 above, but pointing in a specific direction. I am convinced that most social media platforms are not good for their users because of their business models that feed addiction and benefit from it. I'm aware that these are the spaces in which many people are living, and so a presence there is appropriate. However, I want to intentionally look for other ways to promote. I spent a number of years trying to build a presence on Youtube, Facebook and Instagram. It had some success, but I know that for every person I invited to follow me on them, I was also inviting them to grow those companies. I particularly see this as a burden for young people who are even more susceptible to suggested videos and the infinite scroll. So instead of using social media platforms to promote my resources, I want to first try to promote through people. I think the best way to get my resources to the people who need them is by people personally recommending them.
What would you add to these?