There is no room in the church
for arrogance. Ministry is not about attention and importance. It is about
Jesus. So why do we have such a problem with arrogance and what is the
solution? That is a question that would take several sermons to address, but let
me share a thought concerning this. Arrogance is almost always connected in
some way to one’s lack of feeling significant. Arrogance is an attempt to gain
significance, to feel significant, or to be become significant by putting others
down or by being lifted up above others.
Somehow we believe that significance
is found in being recognized, acknowledged, and even served by others. What we
fail to realize is that significance is not found in who serves us, but in whom
we serve. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are servants of Christ and stewards
of the mysteries of God. Our significance comes not from being somebody, but
from serving someone.
Titles do not make us significant.
Diplomas and degrees do not make us significant. Acknowledgement and praise do
not make us significant. All of these things fade, some more quickly than
others. There is always someone with a bigger title, more education, greater
accomplishments, or simply a bigger presence in the room. But nobody in the
room ever serves someone greater than believers serve, for we serve the Creator
himself.
Not only do we serve Christ, but
as believers we have been made stewards of the mysteries of God. There is no
higher calling than to be the ones entrusted with the care and dissemination of
God’s mysteries. The central mystery with which we are entrusted is the gospel.
To the World it is indeed mysterious. It makes no sense to them. It is
foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block the Jews (see 1 Cor 1:23). The
gospel is “the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God
is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor 1:24-25).
It is this mystery with which we have been entrusted.
There is no room for arrogance in
the church. Arrogance is simply an attempt at gaining significance by the World’s
standards. As believers, we need to realize and rest in the greater significance
of being servants of God and stewards of his mysteries. Let us celebrate that great
truth and walk in the meek humility that realizes who we are without needing
others to acknowledge us. The truly great know it. They don’t need others to
tell them how great they are. We are servants of the Most High God and stewards
of his mystery. They don’t come any greater than that.
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