To God still be all the glory
So we do not boast about the work that others have done beyond the limits God set for us. Instead, we hope that your faith may grow and that we may be able to do a much greater work among you, always within the limits that God has set. Then we can preach the Good News in other countries beyond you and will not have to boast about work already done in anyone else’s area.
But as the scripture says, ‘Whoever wants to boast must boast about what the Lord has done.’ (verses 15-17)
One of the sad things that sometimes happens in the church is when a particular pastor has a kind of cult following in the congregation. People like the way he does things, unchurched people get to know him and flock to his services, and the congregation blossoms . Then he leaves. The next pastor is not a clone of him, and people leave in droves.
It is sad, because mostly the pastor concerned does not want to draw attention to himself. Also, it is sad because it makes things very difficult for the next pastor. But, most of all, it is sad because the fact that all glory belongs to God is lost in a bout of human hero-worshipping.
Occasionally a pastor may let pride get the better of him. More likely, however, his members boast about him, telling people from ‘less successful’ congregations that the reason for growth is because their pastor is the goods, he has it right.
Paul says there are two basic reasons why good pastoring is needed. One is that it leads to people’s faith growing, so that God can act through them too. The other is that truly good pastoring encourages people always to see that ‘Whoever wants to boast must boast about what the Lord has done’. Then people will be less likely to leave when the pastor does.
Lord, if I want a better pastor, please remind me to pray for the one I’ve got. Amen.
by Robert Turnbull, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)
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