Shine Bright Like A Diamond

Not every song gets stuck in my head. Certain ones do…

Like Rihanna’s “Diamonds.”

If I hear it, I’m probably going to be humming, whistling, or singing it all day.

Shine bright like a diamond. Shine bright like a diamond. Shine bright like a diamond. We’re beautiful, like diamonds in the sky.

Rihanna didn’t write the song—Australian recording artist Sia Furler did. I doubt Sia was thinking of Philippians 2.15 when she wrote Diamonds.

But honestly, Philippians 2.15 is what I think of every time I hear the song.

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

I can almost hear the Apostle Paul (writer of Philippians) singing, Shine bright like a diamond.

What does shining like bright lights in a dark world look like—from a practical perspective?

In order to answer that question, let’s dig a little deeper in Scripture…

Jesus said, “Your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5.16 GNT

I don’t believe Jesus was telling us to go around doing things that we’ve traditionally considered “holy” in public places (reading our bibles, praying, sending our tithes and offerings electronically from our laptops and tablets at Starbucks and announcing to everyone that we just gave a bunch of money to the church).

You see, the second half of the verse reveals what shining like bright lights actually means…

Jesus said, “When you shine—people will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.”

Let me put it this way, “When you shine—people will EXPERIENCE the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.”

It’s not about us doing a bunch of public piety or churchy behavior in coffee shops and supermarkets.

Nobody is going to cry out thanking God for you because of that.

But when people EXPERIENCE the good things you do—when they are the recipients of your generosity, when they are surprised by your kindness—they will thank and praise God because of you.

I’m gonna make it real simple…

When people experience our kindness, God is honored.

I believe miracles happen when we are kind. Sure, we’re not going to split the Red Sea, but we can anonymously leave an envelope with money in it on on the desk of a single mom (and when she experiences our kindness, she will be thanking and praising God because of us).

Unfortunately, we (the church) are generally known more for our positions (we want people to know what we believe and that we’re “right”) than we are known for our kindness. That’s jacked-up.

Kindness sends a message. It says, “We’re not enemies or competitors. I’m for you & truly care.”

The church needs to be sending this message.

Shine bright like a diamond.

Shine bright like a diamond.

Shine bright like a diamond.

We’re beautiful, like diamonds in the sky.