How can church leaders avoid the pitfalls highlighted in Matthew 23:7? Setting the Scene: What Matthew 23:7 Warns Against “They love the greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by men.” • Jesus exposes a heart that feeds on applause rather than obedience. • The issue is not courtesy but craving status. Pitfall 1: Craving Public Recognition • Proverbs 27:2—“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” • Philippians 2:3—“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride.” • Leaders slip when affirmations replace the approval of God (Galatians 1:10). Pitfall 2: Loving Honorific Titles • Matthew 23:8-10 prohibits titles that elevate one believer above another. • 3 John 9-10 shows how Diotrephes loved “to be first,” wounding the flock. • Titles become traps when they inflate ego rather than clarify service. Cultivating Humility in Practical Ways • Start every meeting by reading Mark 10:42-45—Jesus redefines greatness as service. • Rotate unseen tasks (setting up chairs, cleaning, visiting shut-ins). • Invite honest feedback from mature believers; listen without defensiveness (James 1:19). • Publicly credit co-laborers; privately deflect praise back to Christ (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). Guardrails for Accountability • Plurality of elders (Acts 14:23) prevents any one voice from dominating. • Transparent finances—post budgets, require dual signatures (2 Corinthians 8:20-21). • Annual character reviews based on 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 qualifications. • Mentoring younger leaders; a servant mindset is caught as well as taught (2 Timothy 2:2). Keeping Christ at the Center • Regularly preach Christ crucified, not personal anecdotes (1 Corinthians 2:2). • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper often; it levels everyone at the foot of the cross. • Use corporate prayer to confess sin and express dependence (Psalm 51:17). Summary: A Servant Leader’s Checklist □ Seek God’s “Well done,” not man’s applause. □ Let Scripture shape identity, not titles. □ Practice hidden service weekly. □ Submit to real accountability structures. □ Exalt Christ in every sermon, decision, and conversation. |
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