“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). A wise man said, “There is no limit to the amount of good people can do if they don't care who gets the credit.” There is no room for self-promotion in the ministry of the church. God has ordained that each member has his role, his gifts, and all members of the body are necessary and important. The church is a body of believers “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:20-21). Our goal is the glory of God, the preeminence of Christ, the salvation of sinners, and the edification of the whole body, not the things of our own. The command of Christ for His church is “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves,” and, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). This attitude promotes unity, love, peace, and growth in the church. Promoting self and always seeking to be recognized and get the credit promotes division, resentment, strife, and stifles growth in the church. The ministry is not a one-man operation or merely the work of a few. The ministry of reconciliation does not stand or fall on any one individual justified sinner. It stands upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, who is our Head. There are men placed by God’s will in places of service more public than others, such as pastors and teachers, but this neither discounts nor devalues the place of others in the ministry. We are truly “labourers together with God” in the ministry of the church. Let us all use our time, efforts, finances, and gifts to promote the glory of God, the preeminence of Christ, the salvation of sinners, and the edification of the church.
Why is this so deadly? It is because God has engaged His glory and the preeminence of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His way of salvation based on the obedience and death, the righteousness, of His Son. God is holy, just, and righteous, and it is the highest form of pride, the highest reproach and insult to God, as well as the most blatant denial of Christ for any sinner to imagine that God would save him based on anything other than the righteousness of Christ. Any time a sinner performs a moral or religious act while thinking it will recommend him unto God, or contribute to attaining or maintaining fellowship and favor with God, that sinner is performing acts which are highly esteemed among men but an abomination unto God (Luke 16:15-16). Avoid false religion and false gospels as you would avoid a deadly plague (Prov. 7:24-27).