Matthew 23:5-12(New Living Translation) - "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes. And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue! They enjoy the attention they get on the streets, and they enjoy being called `Rabbi.' Don't ever let anyone call you `Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as `Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don't let anyone call you `Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
This scripture deals with how Jesus explained to his disciples and the crowds that they should not be like the Pharisees, who were bad influences. I say that the Pharisees were bad influences because they live contrary to what they preach, they focus on glamour and prestige, and seek attention from men.
Right now, there are people in the church who do church work and ministry for the wrong reasons. They'll do it to get special seats, kudos, prestige, and recognition. Also, there are people who would think that ministry is about clothes, titles, nice cars, mansions, and being recognized. But ministry is not about prestige and glamour. Ministry means to get your hands dirty for the Lord or what we call it service. Every believer is a minister, believe it or not. Ministry doesn't necessarily have to be pulpit. Also, you don't have to have a title attached to your name to be a minister. Yes, there are people who wish that they were T.D. Jakes, Paula White, Juanita Bynum, Clarence E. McClendon, Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, or other famous preachers because of their clothing, anointing, preaching style, cars, houses, etc. You need to understand that to have the anointing they have, you have alot of suffering and praying to do.
So sad that ministers would be show-offs with titles including Apostle, Bishop, Reverend, Pastor, Prophet, Evangelist, Archbishop, Overseer, etc. Also, they could impress people with clerical garments (Backwards collars and robes). They'll use titles when they know that they're not appointed to the office and have a special ministerial gift. Don't get me wrong. I'm not speaking out against those Ministers in the church who have special titles and wear clerical garments. Yes, I believe that the clerical garments have symbolic meanings. But the point that I'm stating is that it's wrong to do ministry in order to impress others.
Talking about how the Pharisees loved being recognized as leaders, there are alot of people who want to be leaders instead of servants. Everybody wants to be in authority, but not under the authority. Jesus did not say that it's not okay to desire to be a leader. But, in order for you to be a leader, you must be a servant. How on earth do you expect to lead by example when you refuse to be a servant. Remember John 13:1-17 when Jesus washed the feet of the Disciples to show an example of what servanthood is. Every leader must be a servant not only to God, but also to the people. You know that the Cassock symbolizes what Jesus wore when He was a humble servant and the Cinture symbolizes the towel that Jesus used to wipe the Disciple's feet. Also, the Clerical Collar a.k.a. "The Backwards collar" symbolizes how the person is enslaved to the Lord's work. If you want to know what ministry is all about, take a missionary trip to the ghetto part of Brazil or go to the streets to minister to strippers, hookers, pimps, man whores, drug dealers, mobsters, drug addicts, homeless people, and panhandlers.
I hope that this message is a blessing to you. If you enjoy this message, give me an amen. Remember, ministry is not about prestige and glamour. It's about service!!!