1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (The Message Bible) And now, friends, we ask you to honor those...who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
I'm sure you have all heard of the term 'green with envy', and know that it relates to being envious of people and what they have that you would like. Most of us will have had that problem from time to time. Everyone is plagued by it at one time or another. But I want to ask you now, "What about envy in spiritual things? Are you envious of another believer because the Lord has given them a greater ministry than what you have? Are you jealous because someone else has the type of ministry that you have wanted to be used in?"
This is not a good position to be in, but I can understand where you are coming from if you're feeling like this right now. Every person on this earth has a need for acceptance and recognition, and a lot of the time people minister to get that need met, so that others will think they are wonderful and used of the Lord, and they will be recognized by them. It is often subtle and people don't even realize they are doing it.
But you know the Scriptures speak about esteeming or lifting up others for the work's sake. This is the attitude that you should have to your fellow believers, not one of being jealous because of another person's ministry. If you can come to the place where you are able to lift them up and encourage them, and speak blessing on them because of what they are doing for the Lord, it will set you free. Do you know why?
Firstly, you will be humbling yourself before the Lord, and He is the one who will lift you up. He does not want you to try and exalt yourself. He wants to do it for you. As you maintain a humble attitude and let Him use you as He wants to, you will find that He will suddenly lift you up and get you to the frontline, and often when you least expect it or desire it. You need to learn to let your desires go and bless others in ministry before this can happen.
Secondly, He knows your desires for ministry. In fact, very often, the very things that you desire to be used of by Him are what He has put in you already, and He is getting you prepared for it. So there is no need to be jealous of a fellow worker and what they are doing. If you maintain the right attitude He will be able to raise you up to be the same and even greater than the person you want to be like!
So in conclusion, keep your attitude right. Keep humble, bless other workers and do not try and exalt yourself. As you do this the Lord will bless you abundantly, release on you your heart's desire, and exalt you at the same time. It may take a bit of time to come to manifestation, but keep going because a wonderful blessing is on it's way to you, and the Lord will use you above what you thought you were able to do!
What is Your Ministry? Perhaps its a Teaching Ministry?
