He Will Not Share His Glory

"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another." — Isaiah 42:8

A Direct Challenge

There is a set of questions worth putting to anyone who considers himself a servant of God — and to yourself, in whatever form applies to your own life.

Do you expect or demand to travel to speaking engagements in comfort and at the highest standard?

Do you expect or demand first-class lodging?

Do you demand payment for your time above and beyond your food and lodging?

If the answer to any of these is yes, then you may not be a true servant of God.

That is a blunt statement. It is worth examining before dismissing it, because it is grounded in something Jesus actually said.

The Terms Jesus Set

"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; and commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: but be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place." (Mark 6:7–10)

"Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes... And into whatsoever house ye enter... in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house... and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you." (Luke 10:4–8)

Two things are plain.

The Lord considered the payment for a servant's labor to be food and lodging. The labourer is worthy of his hire — and the hire specified is board.

He was careful to say the servant was not to request special treatment. He was to accept whatever was given. Go not from house to house means: do not shop around for better accommodation.

The Question For All Of Us

You who claim to be a servant of God: are you willing to stay in the humble house of a believer while you minister in a city, and eat whatever food they set before you?

If you are not, you are directly disobeying God's word.

Jesus never sent out a road show. He sent humble servants two by two to preach His word — and those servants turned the world upside down within a few years, without a single production.

Why the Church Tolerates the Opposite

"If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." (Mark 9:35)

So why do so many believers look to leaders entirely unwilling to be last of all or servant of all? Why pay out enormous sums to bring in someone who demands luxury and a fee? Why are we so impressed by fine clothes, polished oratory, and worldliness?

Because we lack the fire of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

A church on fire is not impressed by production. A church without fire has nothing else to evaluate.

Point to Ponder

Jesus never sent out a road show. He sent humble servants two by two, and they turned the world upside down.

Verse to Remember

"If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." — Mark 9:35

Question to Consider

What do I require before I am willing to serve?

Today's Practice

This lesson applies to everyone, not only to those with platforms. Bring it home.

Ask yourself:

  • What conditions do I attach to serving? Recognition, thanks, a suitable role, the right people noticing, reimbursement, appreciation?
  • How do I respond when I serve and no one acknowledges it? That reaction is the diagnostic.
  • What am I impressed by in a church? Be honest. Production, size, polish, personality — or holiness, prayer, and people being changed?
  • Would I do this work if nobody ever knew I did it?

Then do one thing this week that no one will ever find out about. Give anonymously. Clean something nobody will notice. Serve someone who cannot reciprocate and will not tell anyone.

"Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." (Matthew 6:3)

Notice what rises in you when there is no possibility of credit. That is the material the fire is for.

Prayer

Father, Your glory You will not give to another — and I have quietly wanted a little of it.

I have served with conditions attached. I have wanted to be thanked, noticed, and thought well of. And when I have not been, something in me has soured, and that souring has told me the truth about my motives.

Forgive me.

Make me the kind of servant Your Son sent out — carrying nothing, accepting whatever is given, staying where I am put, and not shopping for something better.

Make me last of all and servant of all. And where that is not what I want, change what I want.

Let me do something this week that no one will ever know about, and let it be enough that You saw it. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A church on fire is not impressed by production. A church without fire has nothing else to evaluate.