Quote:
Originally Posted by Abiding Now
Here at least we shall be free; the Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
to reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.
Lines 258-63 Paradise Lost by John Milton.
What a devilish attitude! It's a sad day when a person would rather reign in hell, putting their family in jeopardy, than to be a servant in a heavenly place.
When some folks can't excel to their satisfaction in the environment of the local assembly, often times they will leave a good church for a lesser environment where they can "be used".
They weren't really talented enough to sing lead in the choir, but at the lesser assembly their "talents are recognized" and they are "used".
"The pastor doesn't recognize my ministry" is often the cry for the rebel that leaves, dragging wife and his children from a safe haven into a world of the lesser, where he can "reign", rather than "serve".
Too often those that can't serve in heaven find that reigning in hell isn't as rewarding as they thought and wind up ship wreck.
Today might be a could time to prayerfully check our attitude.
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Funny, but I have never once felt anger about "being used" (or NOT used) in church. My resentment comes, not from the pastor telling me I can't teach, but when he starts telling us what days of the week we are allowed to have "marital relations" (as just one example) on and so on and so forth.