You have seen them on theatrical stages and in cartoons. A person standing on a stage in performance, when suddenly they appear to fall through the stage. Reality is a trap door has been triggered to drop the person (character) through the stage floor, disappearing from sight.
There are trap doors in leadership as well. These have engulfed many ministers as well as other leaders. In this article we will look at three.
1, The pursuit of success. We all want to do better, to be “successful” in our work for God. God has indeed planted in each person a desire to succeed. The real issue is not success, but what we do with prospering efforts and outcomes in our lives.
With every small sign of victory in serving God, we must battle the flesh to remain humble, realizing the success is not ours but of God working through us. With each level of fruitful service we are blessed to encounter in life, the more the flesh wants to take credit. “The flesh is never satisfied with our present state of success. We want more. It is easy to become a slave to the pursuit of success – even to the point of stating “we’re doing it for God.”
2, The pursuit of possessions. Growing up I often heard the term, “Keeping up with the Jones’. This was usually spoken of someone trying to outdo their neighbors, attempting to have the newest, biggest of everything, to be the envy of the neighborhood or of the family.
In business and ministry we have a tendency to do the same. Not only ministers, but every believer. We chase after possessions sometimes to the detriment of our witness – and our bank account.
It seems to be a tendency in our society, to chase after more, wanting bigger, better, more. Just a few years ago a 25 inch screen was the norm of all TVs. You had a 19 or 25” screen. Today, it is hard to imagine how one could watch a sporting event on such a small screen. Unless of course you turn the 7” screen on your $1200 phone sideways to watch. We want more, the newest, most advanced of everything.
Unfortunately, this drive has more people living as slaves in a never-ending cycle of debt with no plan of recovery.
3, The pursuit of pleasure. We all desire the good things of life. We desire the opportunities and possessions that bring us pleasure. And like a good dessert, we have a little and we want more and more. We want differing types of this pleasure. The inner self is never satisfied with what we have. What we have leaves us with a longing for more. Pretty soon we are seeking the pleasure, not the will of God.
The first two trapdoors are both tied to this third one. It is a pursuit for happiness and pleasure that lures us from God’s directive and true joy in our lives. God has blessed us with a world of good things that can bring pleasure. Yet, it is our greed that drives us into these never-ending quests for more. More power, more “things”, more pleasure.
What trap doors in your life will you confess to God today to begin your turn around journey to seek the pleasure of His will in your life?
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.