In 1886, Charles Lewis Tiffany revolutionized jewelry design with a simple six-prong setting that lifted diamonds up rather than concealing them in heavy, ornate metal. The genius of the design was its simplicity…the setting existed only to showcase the stone’s brilliance.
Paul tells us that our lives should function the same way with the gospel. We are not the jewel; Christ is. We are not the source of beauty; He is. Our calling is to be the simple, elegant setting that lifts up the gospel for the world to see.
This is harder than it sounds. We naturally want to complicate things, to add our own decorative elements, to draw attention to ourselves. We want credit for our service, recognition for our sacrifice, acknowledgment for our faithfulness. But a setting that draws attention to itself obscures the diamond.
Sound doctrine, Paul says, is what produces this kind of life. When our faith is healthy, when it includes faith, love, and steadfastness, we naturally become less and Christ becomes more. The gospel shines through us not because we’ve mastered some spiritual technique, but because we’ve embraced the simple truth that He is everything and we are His showcase.