St. Basil the Great

Famous or faithful?  We each have that choice to make in our lives.  Of course, we all want to be remembered in some way or to make our marks on history, but the choice has to be made.  I wonder how many theater actors and actresses can testify to how they started out well, but along the way they had to make moral compromises in order to advance or to try to become famous.  What about in the music business?  What about in Hollywood?
Basil from Caesarea of Cappadocia (modern day Turkey) wanted very badly to be great in society.  He thought very highly of himself, and he wanted all to do the same about him.  However, his godly sister, who also led him to faith in Jesus Christ, challenged Basil with this statement: "It's better to be faithful before God than famous before men."
In humility before God, Basil began a quiet life of prayer, study, and writing.  He preached and helped the poor along the banks of the Iris River.  Before long, God began to make him famous.  The emperor at that time, Julian the Apostate, tried to make Basil one of his advisors, but Basil turned him down.
Basil eventually left his quiet life because he was challenged by Eusebius (another famous Christian) to defend the faith against outside attacks and inside heresies.  He became a very public figure indeed!  In 370, Basil became the next bishop after Eusebius.  He also used his own money to help the poor by building a hospital for lepers.  Sometimes he would even administer treatments personally.  Outside of Caesarea, his network of churches, schools, medical facilities, hostels, monasteries, and charity houses became known as Basiliad.
Every January 2 is remembered by many as St. Basil's day.  Basil became famous in his time and beyond, something he desired early in life, but he had to do it God's way.  If he had tried and continued on the path he was on, I can almost guarantee that we would have never heard of Basil.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:5-6, "'God opposes proud people, but He helps everyone who is humble.'  Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes."
Famous or faithful?  Choose wisely!