As I sat week after week in the middle on the left side of the church and listened to Pastor M.C. speak, I could sense there was something amiss. Many times I would hear the words of a bitter man who gave up his multi-level dream house and a very large income to come be a pastor of a tiny church in Phoenix. He would go on and on about how much money he was making between him and his current wife; how he was known to so many and had power and friends in high places.
In private he would speak of the couple who attended the church, a banker and his wife, and how they had tons of money and wished they would give more to the church. He discussed what other pastors in the community were making for income. He wondered aloud how much better his life would be if certain people at the church would leave and not come back.
One Sunday he began telling of what he had done while preaching the Wednesday before. He became excited telling how he jumped over the front-row pew as he was preaching. Walking back and forth, pounding on the pulpit and shouting were his trademarks.
As I read through the book “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado, my mind went back to those days and to this pastor. As the months went on, it became obvious that this man was in it for himself. Everything he did was to reflect on who he was and what he did even taking credit for many things he had no part in.
Lucado points out that the way we live our lives is a reflection on God. Nothing we do here on earth is for you or for me. It’s all for the glory of God. Constantly talking about the large size of a house or how much money someone brings in is pointing people to a person. Wondering aloud how his life would be better is pointing back at the person. Jumping over pews, pounding on a pulpit, or constantly moving distracts people from what the message should be about.
As we live our lives, whether in front of people on a stage or waiting in line to buy groceries, let’s remember that people are watching us and we should be reflecting the glory of God just as if we are a mirror. As John the Baptist said, we are to become less and God is to become greater.
In His Grip!
In private he would speak of the couple who attended the church, a banker and his wife, and how they had tons of money and wished they would give more to the church. He discussed what other pastors in the community were making for income. He wondered aloud how much better his life would be if certain people at the church would leave and not come back.
One Sunday he began telling of what he had done while preaching the Wednesday before. He became excited telling how he jumped over the front-row pew as he was preaching. Walking back and forth, pounding on the pulpit and shouting were his trademarks.
As I read through the book “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado, my mind went back to those days and to this pastor. As the months went on, it became obvious that this man was in it for himself. Everything he did was to reflect on who he was and what he did even taking credit for many things he had no part in.
Lucado points out that the way we live our lives is a reflection on God. Nothing we do here on earth is for you or for me. It’s all for the glory of God. Constantly talking about the large size of a house or how much money someone brings in is pointing people to a person. Wondering aloud how his life would be better is pointing back at the person. Jumping over pews, pounding on a pulpit, or constantly moving distracts people from what the message should be about.
As we live our lives, whether in front of people on a stage or waiting in line to buy groceries, let’s remember that people are watching us and we should be reflecting the glory of God just as if we are a mirror. As John the Baptist said, we are to become less and God is to become greater.
In His Grip!
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