Don't Destroy Yourself

I've seen people burn 'for God' and burn out. I've seen highly talented people in the body of Christ reduce to nothing. I've seen people previously respected in Christian circles become a shadow of their past. What I want to share with you is what destroyed so many people. I've seen it in churches and I've seen it in school fellowship and I can assure you it can completely destroy a man. I know a lot of people think it is sexual immorality that kills many great men of God but it's not. I'll show you what it is.

In life, every good thing we have is privileges, not rights but many Christians find it so difficult to understand this. Someone just became a fellowship president and he already thinks he's the almighty. You lay hands and people fall under the anointing and immediately you forget that you're nothing on your own. Immediately pride starts taking over you. That's the path that leads to destruction. You can even have so many people under you for so many years but what you think you have will eventually be taken away from you.

Many people have risen so high in the kingdom and crashed completely because they don't understand what greatness means in the kingdom of God. You lie, cheat and even exploit sisters because God spoke through you the other day. How did you forget that he once spoke through a donkey?

Jesus said, "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 14:11). No one can force greatness, it takes great humility to achieve it. Because you led in prayer and a miracle happened, you think you have become greater than your pastor. Because your singing attracts many people in the church you think the church cannot do without you. Because you're a graduate and your pastor is not, you think you deserve special treatment from him. WHO ARE YOU? You're just about to hit the rock if you have not.

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)

I grew up in a church where people were more focused on what the pastor was not doing right than what he was doing right. They claimed all the church needed then was for the man of God to be removed. They couldn't obey even a small instruction. They thought they knew better. Pride and rebellion blinded them. I served the church as much as I could and received so much grace and knowledge from the man of God, but many others missed the blessing because of subtle pride.

Just because you could preach, you think you have what it takes to start your own ministry and depart from your church in bitterness. The word of God made it very clear that "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16). Humble yourself and grow in and with humility. Serve humbly and with all your heart. Remember, success and 'something that looks like success' are two different things. Never envy the 'success' of a rebellious person. With time, it will become obvious that they have chosen a path of destruction.

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10) Learn to respect all people of God genuinely, both those above you and those below you in the hierarchy. Learn to put the interest of God and God's people above yours. Don't let anything you may think you are lead to your downfall. To be put above God's people is a rare privilege and you must acknowledge that. Serve the people of God with deep Love and respect. Remember you have the capacity to turn God's blessings in your life into curses. Remember you have the capacity to destroy yourself.
DON't DESTROY YOURSELF.