Following Their Faith

 Do the leaders in your church put themselves up on a pedestal?  Indeed, do you help put them up there?  The apostle Paul could not stand this sort of stance.  He wrote to the Corinthians, 

"...and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.  So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God" (1 Corinthians 3:23; 4:1).

We are all "of Christ".  Leaders are servants of Christ.  These servants are entrusted with God's secret things.

Our being "in Christ," sounds like equal footing to me.  "The ground is level at the cross," I remember hearing someone say.  Therefore, none of us belong on a pedestal in the temple of God.

Paul referred to himself as a "servant of Christ".  Servants do hold a position regarded as 'lowly' and Paul purposely chooses to place himself in that humble role.

Even though 'lowly,' the servant of Christ has a very important task.  That is, he (or she) is "entrusted with the secret things of God".

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is actually each believer's commission.  So is teaching those who come by faith to Jesus Christ for salvation.  These are the secret things of God and we are actually not to keep them secret.

But I digress.  If and when we put any one believer up on a pedestal we begin to create, among other things, divisions among the people of God.  This seems to be what happened in Corinth.

Granted, those who teach and preach, such as the elders, who live among us and govern faithfully as godly servants, and who are in authority within the local church are to be considered, 

 "worthy of double honor" (see 1 Timothy 5:17-18).

Additionally, those who have spoken the word of God to us, we are to follow their faith (see Hebrews 13:7).  The emphasis is on the faith.

The double honor part appears to be in connection with remuneration; that is, financial support.  Following another's faith on the second account is not putting another on a pedestal nor creating divisions.  It is following the faith.  We have to recall that leaders do fail and fall.  Follow their faith, not their personage.

Therefore, both leaders as well as congregants need to be freely aware of both sides of this coin.  Leaders, don't accept adoration and congregants don't give it.  In so doing, make your purpose be to preach and teach the gospel and way of Christian living, building faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ.  Remember, we are each a servant of God; that we are "of Christ, and Christ is of God."  Give glory to God.

Father in Heaven, we love You.  You are the only one we should revere because You are the one and only to be placed on a pedestal in our hearts and minds.  We give You our praise and thanksgiving.

We are thankful for those of Your servants who preach and teach us from Your Word and help build us up in our most holy faith in You through Jesus.

We are sorry and repent of the times we allowed others to be on a pedestal among us but thankful for those who have strong faith in You so we can learn from them and follow their faith.  Help us to be faithful in carrying the trust You have entrusted us all with.  

This I ask in Jesus' name.

                                             ~ERC  November 2023~

Based on 1 Corinthians 3:23 and 4:1 NIV.

Sing, The Servant Song, by Richard Gillard.