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1 Tim 3.1 -
"The word is true: if anyone desires a bishopric, he desires a good deed".
Jer 45.5 -
"But you ask yourself great things: do not ask".
James 3.1-2
- “Do not many become teachers, knowing that we will more condemnation, for we
all sin a lot".
In the ministry of the spiritual leader of
the Christian church, the striving for power and career CANNOT BE A PLACE. Not
a person should look for a place, but a place for a person, because God
Himself, who created a person, knows in the best way his abilities and talents.
A selfish person cannot hold a responsible
office in the church. The text "1 Tim 3.1" was written in the 1st
century, when they persecuted the church and, above all, the bishops (that is,
elders or pastors, they are one and the same); leadership, did not want to.
Moreover, even being a Christian in that and in the next two centuries was
dangerous from the very first day, therefore in the church immediately after
the death of the apostles there were only truly believers and principled, and
not random people.
Usually, spiritual ministry does not bring
honor, but, on the contrary, responsibility and problems (unlike the ministers
of state churches, these churches have deviated from the truth for good
relations with the authorities, this is not about them). Patience and work are
the daily circumstances of the life of a church leader, a leader of a
community, and especially a high-ranking official.
It is necessary to understand that a
privilege is not a position of a leader, BUT SERVICE TO GOD IN this or any
other capacity!
Jeremiah, speaking of “great”, warns Baruch
not against ambition as such, but against “great for himself” (his motivating
reasons - Jer 45.4-5).
Jesus taught that a leader is not a master
but a servant of others (Mark 10.42-44). He can also suffer for others, like
Christ the Head of the Church (Mark 10.33-34).
But His disciples
wanted glory instead - an honorable crown instead of a crown of thorns (v.37).
Then Christ reminded them of His mission and responsibility: "Can you
drink the cup that I am drinking?" (v.38). He said that the leaders are
those "for whom it is prepared" (v.40), that is, THOSE WHO HAVE
PREPARED THEMSELVES TO BE SERVANTS LIKE CHRIST (Mark 10.45, Luke 22.27).
Remember that ambition is the root of all
evil and the beginning of sin in the universe (Lucifer, who wished to be like
God and became the devil and Satan).
It was sin that demanded the death of Christ
on the cross.
Because we, the children of Adam, wanted to
become big, He became small.
Because we did not want to humiliate
ourselves, He humiliated ourselves.
Because we wanted to rule, He became a servant.
