Pitfalls in Christian Ministry -Part 2

The second pitfall is Self-Righteousness.

After some time of successful ministry, we begin to think that “we have achieved”. The self begins to rise thinking “How great I am”. That’s when statements like, “God you can’t do this to me” ....I have served you faithfully and this is what I get”. Doesn’t it sound familiar? Instead of realizing that it was God who gave the success, we tend to think it was ME and God. We think God owes us a favor because of what we have sacrificed.

That was the problem with Jonah. Jonah was upset because he felt the people of Nineveh ought to die and for the simple reason he had prophetically said so. Now that God had relented, Jonah felt that, "God you made me look like a lier". Unknowingly the self get puffed up and tends to look down on the rest.

Remember the Pharisee and the Publican. Luke 18: 11-12 - The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Actually what the Phrisee said was correct but the intent smelt of self.

You will be surprised how many servants of God have displayed such an attitude without realizing their actions. Me included. When someone speaks against us, someone younger or who does less in the ministry than us, we tend to echo the words of Job:

Job 30:1-2 - “But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.

Job 30: 8 - They are nameless fools, outcasts from society.

Job 30:12 - These outcasts oppose me to my face.

Leaders beware.

A story in the life of David reminds us how we should react in such situation.

2 Samuel 16:5-10- And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?