Sunday Read: The Jealousy of Ministry

Aaron and Miriam had legitimate reasons to question Moses's leadership. They were older siblings who had supported him from the beginning. Miriam had watched over him as a baby in the Nile; Aaron had served as his spokesperson before Pharaoh. When Moses married a Cushite woman, they used it as an opportunity to voice their deeper grievance: "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" (Numbers 12:2). Their complaint wasn't really about his marriage—it was about their marginalized status in his shadow.

Ministry jealousy is the cancer that destroys church unity more effectively than external persecution. Pastors compete over attendance numbers, speaking invitations, and social media followers. Worship leaders compare their songs' popularity to other churches' music. Small group leaders feel threatened when members join different groups. Volunteers resign when others receive recognition they feel they deserved. What begins as humble service gradually morphs into ego-driven competition.

The disciples struggled with this same issue, arguing about "which of them was the greatest" (Luke 9:46). James and John asked for privileged positions in Jesus's kingdom, triggering anger among the other ten who wanted those spots themselves (Mark 10:35-41). Even at the Last Supper, they were "disputing among themselves, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest" (Luke 22:24). Ministry proximity doesn't automatically produce ministry humility.

Jesus's response was radical: "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35). He demonstrated this principle by washing his disciples' feet—a task so menial that Jewish servants weren't required to perform it (John 13:1-17). The path to greatness in God's kingdom runs directly opposite to the world's understanding of success, status, and significance.

John the Baptist modeled the proper response to diminishing ministry influence. When his disciples complained that Jesus was baptizing more people, John replied, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). Instead of defending his territory or competing for followers, John celebrated Jesus's growing influence as the fulfillment of his own ministry purpose.

What triggers jealousy in your ministry relationships? How do you respond when others receive recognition, opportunities, or appreciation that you wanted? Are you more concerned with advancing God's kingdom or advancing your own position within it? The antidote to ministry jealousy isn't greater humility—it's clearer understanding of why we serve and whom we're ultimately seeking to please.