Pastors Who Seek Their Own Interests And Those Who Seek Christ’s Interest

PAUL, THE apostle, helps us to group Christian leaders into two. Firstly, those who seek their own interests and secondly, those who seek the interests of Jesus Christ.

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For THEY ALL SEEK THEIR OWN INTERESTS, NOT THOSE OF JESUS CHRIST. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel….” (Philippians 2:19-24).

Based on this passage of Scripture, a Christian has a responsibility to find out whether their pastor actually seeks the interests of Christ Jesus or his own interests.

Those who Seek the Interests of Jesus

Paul talks about the first group of pastors. They are those who seek the interests of Christ Jesus.

Of all the ministers who walked with Paul, he mentioned only Timothy as one who sought  the interests of Christ Jesus.

In the passage of Scripture above, the apostle emphasises two key qualities in the life of Timothy, which show that he seeks the interests of Christ.

Firstly, Timothy was genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Philippian church. Thus, leaders who seek the interests of Christ are genuinely concerned for the welfare of Christ’s disciples under their care.

Apart from counselling and praying for them. Pastors use part of the church income to care for the poor members by giving them money, food or shelter. A donation to poor believers is a donation to Jesus Christ.

“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? ’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (Matthew 25:44-45).

Throughout the New Testament, we read about leaders of the church providing for the poor particularly fellow believers.

Paul tells us about what Peter and the other early apostles told him when he consulted them concerning his ministry.

“Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Galatians 2:10).

Secondly, Paul says Timothy served with him in the gospel. This means that pastors who seek the interests of Jesus Christ team up with others to serve in the gospel. In other words, they come together and commit themselves to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Preaching the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to make people believe in Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls is seeking the interest of Christ Jesus.

Those Who Seek Their Own Interests

However, Paul talks about other church leaders who seek their own interests. These are those who are concerned about their personal and family welfare.

These ministers are selfish, self-centered, inward-looking and greedy. Thus, they do not care using the resources of the church to address their plight or provide their personal needs which may include cars and houses.

Also, pastors who seek their own interest do not care, always preaching and teaching only motivational messages to excite people to follow them.

For them, ministry is all about pulling crowds. It is about influencing people to follow them so that they can collect fat offerings from them to meet their financial needs.

As they do this, they deny people the Word of truth, the gospel of salvation, which draws them to believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation and spiritual growth.

By James Quansah

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James Quansah is the Executive Director of Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre (CLC) and lead Pastor of End-Time Christ’s Commissioners (ECC), Kumasi, Ghana. James is also a journalist by profession. He is married with four children.