In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul says something interesting.
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
How many ministers and so-called leaders truly understand that the people they minister to belong to someone else? Oh, I’m sure that most would say it with their lips, but we all know how God feels about lip service. I’m speaking of the understanding that translates into action. Paul seems to understand that those he ministers to as an apostle don’t really belong to him. We can easily cross reference this with 1 Corinthians where he rebukes them for their division … many of them claiming to be of his “group.”
He didn’t want a group. He knew who they already belonged to. Christ.
True leaders in the Kingdom act as if the Bride belongs to Christ. They realize their stewardship is temporary at best, and even then must put all of their trust in Christ for those “under” them to grow.
Or do we truly believe that only God can change hearts? Do we believe that our sermons or our books or songs change hearts? These may be vehicles, but the substance is in Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts, regenerate dead men into living beings worthy of the call. You can’t teach, preach, prophecy, pastor or evangelize well enough to do His work. Realize that He is preparing His Bride and allow Him to include you in the work He is already doing.
Too many leaders do not teach people to hear God’s voice. They teach others to hear the voice of the leader or the committee. They do not teach brothers to trust in God, they make them dependent upon the leadership or organization. Too many build their “ministry” with worldly success as their example instead of a heavenly perspective.
A big part of this is realizing that your goal is to send the Bride off to Her Husband. You work yourself out of a job. But Paul did not just understand this, he longed for it! He was JEALOUS over them. It should give you joy to see the Bride become one with Her Husband, as it did John the Baptist. He actually rebuked his disciples for not running after Jesus fast enough! When is the last time you saw a leader rebuke someone, saying, “why are you still here? Follow Christ! Go!”
Too often what really happens is that a leader acts as if he (or she) is the husband and grooms the Bride for himself. Larry T. used to call this “pinching the butt of the Bride.” She is not there for you to flirt with or carry off. It is a serious temptation all leaders in the Kingdom must face.
Serve one another. Submit to one another. Love one another. Bear one another’s burdens. Let God prepare His Bride through His Bride and you’ll be amazed at the purity and life that you and others will see.
Peace.