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In response, John’s disciples became upset and
went to John and complained. Here we are told that they called John “Rabbi.” This is the same word
that was used for Jesus. Both Jesus and John were rabbis. They were considered to be spiritual leaders and
teachers.
Taking Credit For Success. Can you hear John’s disciples complain, “All are coming to Him!” “Everyone is coming to Jesus!” It is obvious that “everyone” was not coming to Jesus. “All” were not coming. The whole countryside was not coming. They were exaggerating. Their choice of words gives away their emotions and frustration. Their words reveal the jealousy in their hearts. Their words reveal that their measure of success was “how many are coming” and Jesus was having “greater success.” Their concept of success was wrong. The same is true today among some pastors and church leaders. They count every person who attends the various events at the church. Bible Studies and ministries are cancelled because there are not enough people coming. We do not ask the question, “Is spiritual growth occurring?” because numbers are our measure of God at work.
It is also common for pastors and leaders in a church to be honored for having increased the
size of the church or for having accomplished a list of other wonderful things. These are nice words. They
are flattering words, and maybe he or she has accomplished a lot; but such praise dishonors the Lord and puts
the focus on man. It is God who deserves the honor and praise when great things are accomplished because it
is He who gives the increase. When men take the credit, they deny God the glory, because men only plant and
water. They do not cause the increase. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this spiritual truth when he says,
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (NASB) 1 Cor. 3:4-7 Some have forgotten that it is not our talent, it is not our skill, it is not our intelligence, and it is
not our charisma that brings spiritual blessing and growth. It is the Lord Himself who “brings success.” It
is the Holy Spirit who is at work in the hearts and minds of men and women. We are only His tools.
When John the Baptist heard the complaint of his disciples that more people were coming to Jesus, He recognized their error and responded in a way similar to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:4-7.
John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. (NASB) John 3:27 John said it right. The disciples were wrong. The “How big are we?” was the wrong measure of
success. It is the world’s measure of success.
Someone once said that any preacher can build a large church of 1,000 or more people. But that
is not true. The comment ignores the work or sovereignty of God and assumes that man is in control. It ignores
the fact that God might allow him to grow a church that dishonors Him. This happens frequently in churches
around the world. Just consider the seven churches of Revelation. Five of the churches received rebuke and
only two were good. God allowed five bad churches to exist. How many people attend a concert or go to a basketball
game is not a measure of spiritual success or God’s blessing. Numbers alone do not indicate if God is
at work in a church, Bible Study, Sunday School, or ministry. Numbers only indicate how many people were attending.
God even allows false religions to grow. Many false religions have great numbers of people attending, but they
are not receiving God’s blessing. God is not in their midst. Numbers are not God’s measure of success. |
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