honour among men

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:26

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?   Luke 12:25

I was wondering if that means his worldly stature among men as well?
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?   John 5:44

I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.    John 5:41-42

When the Living God, creator of the whole universe speaks to you in love, you really don’t care what anyone else thinks of you! Remember when Jesus was baptized?

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.   Luke 3:21-22

Jesus was able to endure a lot after that word of love from His Heavenly Father!

…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.     Romans 5:5

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,  When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;  And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.    Luke 14:7-11

If we also are believers in Jesus then when we go to church we can both have needs and still be an equal member of the body and still be used by Jesus to minister to others there. Somehow churches got into believing that the ‘staff’ was the only ones that God uses and it often puts them in an idolatrous position and gives them worldly authority over people. It makes the distinction of ‘teachers’ and ‘benefactors’ and their parishioners that think they cant hear from God themselves and must depend on the staffs instructions for everything they think and do.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  But so shall it not be among you…    Mark 10:42-43

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.     Luke 22:25-26

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Matt 23:8

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;   Matt 20:25-26

Often we go to churches because we are desperately needing something and when we are in that position of vulnerability we can forget that the people ‘on staff’ are just people like us. We tend to fall into the trap of thinking they know more and are more important than we are, but our importance isn’t based on how many scriptures we know or if we went to seminary or have worked at a church for a certain amount of time. Its based on our fellowship with Jesus and whether or not we know Him. Paul spoke of the difference between man’s wisdom and the Holy Spirit:

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.         1Cor 2:1-5

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.   Matt 20:28

If we dont play along with the church game of pastors being our saviour and teacher we may find ourselves looked down on as if we are strange or disobedient or not even serving God. If the peer pressure is strong enough we can begin to doubt ourselves, but anyone who has truly given their lives to Jesus has access to His wisdom and His leading, even when it doesnt always totally agree with the staff at the local church. It can make a person feel peculiar but…

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:   Ex 19:5

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:    1 Peter 2:9

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.    1 Cor 4:9

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.    Heb 11:24-27

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;   Phil 2:15

The story of Stephen in the book of acts is an example that the Lord really encouraged me in regarding humility, and the greatest being the servant…

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:     Acts 6:1-5

Stephen was chosen by the disciples because: ” It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.  Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.  And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,     Acts 6:9-12

Stephen preached a 53 verse anointed sermon! and then:

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.     Acts 7:54-60

Stephen said “behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God”  -Most everywhere else I have read in the bible it describes Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, but when Stephen was being killed, Jesus stood up! He opened heaven so Stephen could see Him!

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.  Psalms 116:15

This God stays with us even through death and right into the next life…

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.       Psalm 48:14

Often when people speak of glory they think about crowds of people looking up to them, they think of getting a new yacht, that their house will be the nicest in their neighborhood, or that they will do so many miracles that they will have renown, but when Jesus prayed for God to glorify Him, He said:

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:     John 17:1

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.    John 18:1

God glorified Jesus above all others, He answered that prayer of Jesus asking to be glorified by leading Him up to be crucified, and raising Him again.

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.    Romans 1:4-7

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.   Deut 31:6

I pray that we will seek the glory and honour that comes from God alone and not be desiring the fame or prestige that comes from worldly admiration or worldly things.