When a child/minister of God dies and leaves this world, many Christians say this like “he is the greatest preaher of…” or “one of the most anointed…” or “one of the most profound teachers of….” and things like that.
You know, for a child of God and concerning the things of the kingdom, it is unwise to say a child of God is greater than another child of God or a child of God is the greatest preacher or teacher or man of God or singer or minister, etc., because of the ministry achievements we see.
We are not of them that compare themselves with themselves. Most importantly, the Lord Jesus who gave each person the work has not made known to us his judgement of anyone’s works yet.
In the book of John 21:17-22, when the Lord Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep 3 times and Peter later decided to ask about John, the Lord Jesus said… “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”. In contemporary terms it’s more like saying, “mind your business” or “face your own assignment”.
In the books of Matt. 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27. The parable of the talents/minas, the master of the servants while commending the servants who grew their talents/minas from 5 to 10 and from 2 to 4 never compared them to each other. He commended them individually based on what he assigned to them and rewarded them individually.
Too many Christians are using worldly or secular measures for kingdom matters. Looking at and measuring success in the kingdom by the parameters of the world. That is it wrong!
It’s good we think and talk in the ways of the Lord Jesus and not in the ways of the world. While it is good to appreciate and encourage children of God as they go about their God-given assignments, let us not pain false images of success and greatness by using the measures of the world.
The Lord Jesus decides who is successful, who is great and greater than another; for he is the one who calls each person, gives each person an assignment and judges each person’s life and work.
Shalom!