Some preachers think they are “all that.” They think the church revolves around them. They think they are the master of the sermon preparation and delivery. They think they should be invited to speak in other congregations and on lectureships. They arrive at those places as if they are a celebrity and expect wonderful accolades and royal treatment.
Perhaps (again, perhaps) if (again, if) there was anyone who could view themselves in that way, maybe it would be the apostle Paul. Think about all of the grand accomplishments of this man of God—the thousands of converts made, the dozens of congregations established, the debates he won, the boldness he displayed, the life he sacrificed. He deserved to be recognized, right? He deserved to be invited to speak at great church events, right? He deserved to roll into town and have the brethren “ooh” and “aah” over his every word, right?
Well, you know Paul. He wouldn’t accept any of that! His enemies tried to accuse him of such self-commendation, and there were times when he had to defend himself, because accusations like that against Paul were actually accusations against Christ Himself and the work and message with which Paul was charged. But pay attention to how Paul responded.
Paul wanted his brethren to know that his confidence was “through Christ toward God.” For, he said, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers…” (2 Cor. 3:4-6). Paul recognized that he was not “sufficient” to accomplish anything that he had accomplished but that it ALL came “from God.” And note that he said God had made him “sufficient” as a “minister,” which is also translated “servant.” He was just a servant.
He affirms it again in the next chapter. “For we do not preach ourselves” (it’s not about us!), “but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). Again, he refers to himself as a “bondservant.” Then, he says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (4:7). The treasure is NOT us! The treasure is “the gospel” (4:4). We are just the jars of clay that carry it and share it. We are nothing!
This is reminiscent of another place, where Paul said, “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters…” (1 Cor. 3:7). Who is Paul? He would (and did) say, “Not anything.” He called himself “the least of all the saints” (Eph. 3:8).
Don’t be like some preachers today! Be like Paul! Make everything about Jesus and NOT about you!