How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (John 5.44)
I believe that looking for the honour of man is the greatest influence on people today that takes them away from the leading of the Spirit of God. The honour of man is having other people admire you and respect you. It’s nice when it happens, but it should never be our motivation as Christians.
It’s amazing but people will buy a car to get other people to honour them, they will marry someone because someone who isn’t in the marriage will respect them, they choose a church on the basis of what others think, they choose a house on what others think, they eat food that impresses others! It’s amazing, but true!
And it can be the most tragic force in the universe.
- I have seen people turn down the heavenly calling to be a pastor because it does not bring honour to them with their family, the friends, people around.
- I have seen other people turn down the church that God is calling them to pastor, to build, to grow – and take a church that has more honour of man.
- I have seen people marry the wrong person because the community approves – oh, it’s so nice that person married a doctor. Yet they never ask the Holy Spirit to lead them, and problems come around!
- I have seen preachers change their message and change their vision to impress and get honour from those around them, rather than preach the truth in love.
- I have seen people hold back from using the gifts of the Spirit in case they lose the honour of people
- I have seen people not enter full time ministry because they want the respect and admiration of men
- I have seen people get into terrible debt to buy things to impress others!
- I have seen minister’s afraid of talking about money and raising money to change the world because they do not want to lose the respect of people
And they love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called men, Rabbi (Matt. 23.6-7)
I have seen it – pastors clamouring to sit in the best seats, make sure they are in the right row. I have heard ministers tell me that their biggest problem in some meetings is the seating arrangement of the leaders not the lost. Here is an idea – have a stage without seats. Problem solved.
We have to learn to be Spirit led. Equally, we have to learn not to be led by the praise of men.
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