Others
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AN APOSTOLIC TEACHING -
I can remember it like it was yesterday.
I was hearing, in my opinion, what was one of the worst messages ever preached
in Church history! Maybe the worst!
I just couldn't believe it! This was truly bad.
Unfortunately, I was the one giving the message!
My words seemed so hollow, so empty.
"Lord, where are you, please help me....after all Lord, you called me."
But heaven was silent. The Holy Spirit didn't even seem to be in the same State!
I felt terrible. I wanted to retire from the ministry. For several hours
afterwards, I refused to be encouraged from my depressed mood.
"Why me Lord?"
After awhile I sensed God's interrogation begin.
"Why did you give that message today?"
Now, how many know that when God asks you a question, it isn't because He lacks
information! No, He's exploring our motives, our attitudes. He's looking for
something, usually our repentance. So I've learned not to answer His questions
too quickly! But after more probing by the Holy Spirit, I slowly began to
realize that caring for, and helping the congregation had not been my primary
reason for ministering that day. Instead, the Lord showed me that I was trying
to impress people and draw attention to myself. I wanted to be the celebrity,
not the servant of all.
It would sure be nice if this episode was a totally isolated incident, but I'm
afraid that there have been a number of times over the years when God has
pointed out the gap between my selfishness and Christ's servanthood. I've had to
learn to regularly let Him search my heart.
It's amazing to think about Jesus. He didn't teach in order to "feel the
anointing", or to impress the people with His wisdom, or even to receive honor.
He didn't live under the pressure of trying to produce an outstanding message.
Jesus didn't even prepare for meetings, He just cared for people!
" Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but with
humility of mind let each of you regard others as more important
than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others. "
Phil. 2:3-4
There they are. The twin devils. Selfish ambition and vain conceit! No two
qualities are more destructive to the church! These are the two plagues that
keep us so bound.
Selfish ambition is living for ourselves. Thinking only about ourselves. Selfish
ambition is when self is exalted. it's when we do things, not to please God, but
in order to exalt ourselves. It's when we elevate ourselves at the expense of
others. We boast and exaggerate. We defend and protect self instead of
confessing our weaknesses.
Vain conceit is the desire to be noticed, the hatred of being wrong. It's the
vanity that makes a person fight for his own. To push his agenda regardless of
the interests of others. Vain conceit is magnifying our virtues while we magnify
everyone else's faults! The old word is "vainglory". It's a kind of glory, but
it's vain, empty, it has no substance to it.
The scripture says that "pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before
a fall." Hey friend, are you turned off by the idea of falling flat on your
face? Then take some advise from someone who has kissed the pavement a few
times. We must replace our pride with humility and overcome selfishness through
service. We must humble ourselves or get humiliated. We need to be always
willing to invite and pursue correction.
Do you know what's great? Paul shows us right here what humility looks like.
It's defined by one word....."others"!
"Consider others better than yourselves." "Look out for the interests of
others."
Others!! So simple. It deals a blow to the arrogant and self indulgent. It's so
true. The people who have made the greatest impact on my life through the years
have been those who consistently and humbly served, often in obscurity. My wife
has been a great example to me...a daily gift to me in the way she serves
without seeking to be noticed. And even now, here in Africa, God has placed me
in a church where loving and humble service is the norm and not the exception.
Others! In a word, that's what humility and servanthood are all about. Humility
is not some mysterious, subjective emotion. It's not a personality or
temperament type. Rather, it's the truest expression of Christ within us and the
only motive and method for building a church that represents the Lord.
Not only that, but it's a surefire way to avoid preaching the worst sermon
you've ever heard!
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