When you’re more focused on your performance than you are on the mission, there’s trouble ahead.
Stop showing off. Stop trying to get better for the sake of trying to get better.
Focus relentlessly on serving God and serving people, and an amazing thing might happen. You’ll likely get better.
But at that point, you might not even notice.
Which would be awesome.
2. Everyone thinks they’re a little better than everyone else.
One of the big differences between the Pharisees and the ‘sinners’ Jesus hung out with is how they felt about themselves.
The Pharisees thought they were right.
That’s dangerous territory for leaders because often we think we’re right or that our positions (theological or philosophical) are right.
So, do you think your view is simply better than others? Or that you’re better than others? A little less sinful? A little more together? A little smarter? A little wiser? Spend a lot of time criticizing others and asserting how right you are?
There’s the Pharisee.
3. There’s this love of money thing going on.
Money. Could there be a more fun topic in the church?
Ministry needs money to run on. I get that.
As a general rule, underfunded ministries are ineffective in the long run. This is true of any ministry or charitable organization. I actually agree with Dan Pallotta that the most important causes in the world should be the most generously funded. (If you haven’t heard his TED talk, stop reading this blog post and watch it.)
