Self-serving personal ambition is a very serious problem in local churches. It has become standard for men (and now women) to look at ministry as a job. Such will use the words of ‘a calling’, yet be diverted by the pursuit of a higher salary, fame and self-centered superstar status. This quickly devolves to papery – even if only at the local church leader. All this is fully contrary to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, along with almost every writer of the books of the Bible. This has been a problem since the early days of the church, today bloomed into very serious problem that must be solved by serious Remnant believers.
And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
(Mark 10:42–45, LSB)
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. “And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. “And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by men.
“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. “And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. “Do not be called instructors; for One is your Instructor, that is, Christ. “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
(Matthew 23:1–12, LSB)
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been shepherding themselves! Should not the shepherds shepherd the flock? “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you sacrifice the fat sheep without shepherding the flock. “Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, and the diseased you have not healed, and the broken you have not bound up, and the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you searched for the lost; but with strength and with severity you have dominated them. “They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.
“My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to seek or search for them.” ’
” Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: “As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “surely because My flock has become plunder, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not seek for My flock, but rather the shepherds shepherded themselves and did not shepherd My flock; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will seek My flock from their hand and make them cease from shepherding the flock. So the shepherds will not shepherd themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth so that they will not be food for them.” ’ ”
(Ezekiel 34:2–10, LSB)