“And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David…”  (1 Samuel 17)

 

Reader, We have in the titles and the text above a Scriptural principle that all ministers of God will realize and maybe struggles with in life. This principle is, the minister will not be seen by his family and friends and those very familiar with him as do others. Examples are given us in Scripture.

Joseph was despised by his brothers and the brothers went so far as to sell him to traders and told Jacob, their father, that Joseph was killed.  David, also had a good number of brothers and they too despised their brother, David.  We see in the life of our Lord, His brothers did not believe in Him and His claims.

Reader and fellow labourers especially, do you wonder why others respect you, seek your counsel, sit to hear what you have to say, and in some cases even pay your for your service and yet at home you are “just” Dad, or the little brother, and no one sees you as do others? Have you ever wondered why? Now you have your answer. This should not bother you.  This difference in treatment is for your good.

How many times have we seen a minister begin to believe his own press and then fall?  Fellow labourers, we need to remain humble and this is one way God saves us from our self and from ruin. God uses a number of means to keep us in our place.

God will use the familiarity of family and friends to keep us humble as written above. God will use a thorn in the flesh to keep us humble.  God will use sin to keep us humble. Brethren it is a great importance that we remain humble before God and man. When we begin to believe our own press and we begin to think highly of ourselves, it will not be long until God abases us, it will not be long before He sets Himself in array against us. God hates, hates, hates spiritual pride, He hates the proud look.

Brethren never forget, we are ministers, that is to say servants, and yes!, slaves to Christ. There is no room or place for pride and self-centeredness, self-promotion, self- honour. Humility and meekness are absolute necessities for the man of God. However, we are not saying the minister is to be a push-over. Some imagine humility to be a depressed, poor, and weak man.  This is not humility. Humility is simply the acknowledgement that all one is, all one has, all one will ever be, and all one will ever have comes directing to him from God. Humility understands we have nothing that has not been bestowed upon us by God’s grace and mercy. Once a person forgets that, humility is dead.

A minister can proclaim his gift of preaching and teaching, he can speak well to his gift and some might think he is arrogant, but the minister, while loving, using, and confessing his gift, he acknowledges God as the giver, gifter, and maintainer of said gift. I have heard persons compliment others on their gift or service and the person begins to deny the talent of gift and pretend they are just so-so.  Reader, this is a great affront to the Giver and Gifter!!!.

Imagine you give a loved one a great gift, a precious and novel gift,imagine someone compliments that gift, and then imagine the one to whom you have given the gift says, Eh. Whatever…it’s not that important to me.” Reader that is what we are saying when we pretend a grotesque-humility in order to be thought meek and lowly. While we are acting so stupidly, God is in Heaven and He is saying, “WHAT!? WHAT did she say about the gift I gave her!!???”  Reader, recognize the gift, receive the gift, own the gift, treasure the gift, honour the gift, share the gift with others, speak well to your gift, and acknowledge the Greatness of the Gifter.

Reader, God has gifted me with preaching, teaching, faith, prayer, discernment, and understanding. I am so thankful for these gifts, these gifts and the Giver defines me and my life. We are not being arrogant, but factual. Some may think this is boastful and maybe it is, but if I am boastful, I boast in the Lord, as did Paul and all of God’s right-minded servants. Samson is a good example here. Samson had great strength, he served the LORD as judge, and he provoked with great exploits. The thing is, Samson always knew where his power came from and that power came from God. But if you were a contemporary of Samson, you would think him arrogant, bold, deceitful, womanizing, and licensious. What you wouldn’t know is it was all according to God’s BIG picture plan.

Samson was usually going out to other towns and cities. Could this be because it was in these places he was recognized as something special, whereas at home, he was Samson and thought to be as described above.

Having written the above, we must warn fellow labourers about the pitfall of pride. Fellow labourers, your sin and sins should keep you humbled. Acknowledging the LORD in all your ways will keep you humbled, those who are familiar with you, like family and friends will keep you humble. A great ugliness is a pride-filled minister who has forgotten what God does not, we are made of dust.

Godspeed.