Zambia Hunt

Missionaries must be vigilant against harboring a spirit of competition towards other ministers and their ministries. Comparing ministries, programs, numbers, or other forms of visible “success” is a temptation rooted in pride. Protecting our tribe or fearing that our value may be minimized by the success of others leads to this temptation. A competitive spirit can easily give way to envy, which, left unchecked, leads to a critical spirit.

The disciples of Jesus were like that. One day they encountered another minister casting out demons in the name of Jesus, and quickly shut the brother down, forbidding him to serve in this way. Luke records the disciples as saying, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” Their reasoning was that this brother was not part of their band of disciples. When Jesus learned what the disciples had done he responded, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50)

Paul understood this heartbeat of Jesus. The proclamation of the gospel was to be the priority, and personalities, minor differences, and even suspect motivations would not hinder Paul from rejoicing that the gospel was being preached

Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Evaluating the motives of others

A critical attitude towards a fellow believer in Christ can lead us to question their motives. When we assume that we know what motivates someone else, we are taking on the role of God. This is a great sin, as we are placing ourselves in judgment over our fellow believers (Matthew 7:5). Although we are all guilty of this at times, we need to be aware of this temptation and strive to avoid it. 

The reality is that God can choose to work through people with whom we may disagree. We should be slow to criticize fellow believers and instead rejoice when the gospel is preached (Philippians 1:18). We should also pray for God to bless them and their work abundantly, even if we choose another way of doing the work of ministry. We live in an age of cancel culture. Sadly, we are all too quick to cancel a brother who has faithfully labored for Christ when he says or does something we do not agree with. Paul said, “To His master, he stands or falls.” “What is that to you? Jesus said, “You follow me.” (See Romans 14:4, Luke 9:49-50, John 21:21-22)

Evaluating my own motives

As a believer, it’s my responsibility to evaluate my motives for serving God. Although I understand that my intentions can never be entirely pure, I remain committed to serving Him, knowing that He works through flawed individuals. Rather than wasting time in introspection, I choose to focus on serving God with all my heart, entrusting my path to His guidance and protection. I pray that in all my actions, the name of Jesus Christ will be exalted and glorified above all else.

David Livingstone penned the following prayer in his journal, “Purify my motives, sanctify all my desires. Guide my feet and direct my steps so that the great and glorious Jesus may be glorified.”   (Rob Mackenzie, David Livngstone, The Truth Behind the Legend. Kingsway Publications, Sussex, Great Britian, 1993, p. 130)

Conclusion

Let us pray that God delivers us from this vile sin. As missionaries, we are called to resist the temptations of competition and judgment and, instead, embrace the humility of Christ. Let us examine our motives and keep our focus on the ultimate goal of glorifying Jesus Christ in all that we do. May we pray for the strength to overcome the spirit of competition, serve with pure hearts, and witness the boundless grace that flows from living a life anchored in humility and love.