A healthy caution concerning motive

“Some men who aspire to the pastorate- especially some young men- do so with a conceited desire to be seen as great in the eyes of others. They make a pretense of honoring God, but secretly they long that others would say of them, “He is a man of immense learning,” or “He is a man of great prowess in preaching,” or the like. Not so with you. Rid yourself of such idolatry and let it be said of you, instead, “He is a man of great Christian love,” and “He is a man of great faithfulness, holiness, and humility.” For in these things, rather than the others, does true greatness consist.”

-          Anonymous