Hebrews 3:3 

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.

For Meditation

As a retired pastor, I see a lot of missteps pastors take, which leads them down the slippery road of pride and lofty living. It is an avoidable condition only if we can respect the sovereignty and holiness of God.

The church has too many lords and kings, if not gods. Members of the clergy have raised themselves above the Lord of the church in diverse ways. We have usurped the seat of Christ and assumed preeminence among the congregation. We claim we are exalting Christ in our services when, in reality, it has always been about us. Many have started well but lost it to the sweet and subtle flow of glamor, recognition, power, and authority over a clinging congregation. Gradually, and as the membership grows, pastors do everything to match their expectations. They have standards and quotas to meet, so they add more pressure to their already high-pressurized hearts.

The pastor must give the congregation what they valued in the world before coming to the Lord to make them feel comfortable. That’s the way to keep the affluent and maintain the cash flow. The richer the church becomes, the harder it tries to maintain these standards, which comes with lots of compromises and rationalization of the word.

We have forgotten that the building is never greater than its builder, just as Moses is not greater than Jesus, the Creator of all things (Hebrews 3:1-6). He is the builder of His house—His body, the church – to which we belong as members. 

Therefore, Christ alone deserves our worship. He alone deserves our attention and obedience—not any pastor, prophet, or apostle, no matter how masterly God uses them. 

O that they may know—those pastors who have raised themselves as kings and lords to receive worship from the congregation God has raised them to lead!

O, that they may know—those members who have exalted their leaders above the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ, and have made the words of those human leaders their authority!

O, that we may know – no matter how blessed or divinely favored, that His seat is not ours.

Only if everyone will know that Jesus is the only Lord and Sovereign King to be worshipped and adored. 

Only then will they be wise and any of us humbled.

As the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:

I am the Lord; that is my name!

    I will not give my glory to anyone else, 

Nor share my praise with carved idols (Isa. 42:8).

So, the Psalmist says:

Now then, you kings, act wisely!

    Be warned, you rulers of the earth! (Psalm 2:10).

I am humbled.,