1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
There is no place for competition in ministry. We can certainly spur one another on to great things, but we do this out of love, not our of jealousy. It can be discouraging for pastors to see other churches growing and theirs not. Ministers are human and succumb to pride. Pride and competition in ministry are a sign of spiritual maturity, or at least the temptation to let the power of worldly living to overcome our growth in Christ. It takes humility to see those in ministry with as as partners and not competitors. District Assemblies can be especially difficult times for this, when the statistical records are available and examined by many people. I have been in a number of assemblies where awards are given for attendance gain or money given. My churches and I have received some of these awards. There may be a place for this in the way of encouraging people to keep up the mission, but it can also create opportunities for pride. Our wages come not in the congratulations of district assemblies or leaders but in the joy of seeing lives transformed. Paul’s reward often was prison and beating (see 2 Corinthians 11). One of the great joys in this life is to partner with others in shared ministry. Paul saw what he was doing, what Apollos was doing, and others, as being a shared mission with a common goal. This type of approach brings glory to God, not us.
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