The Higher the Pedestal the Harder the Fall

The Higher the Pedestal, the Harder the Fall

When God's Servants Begin Believing Their Own Applause

By David W. Ebel
God Says Yes Podcast

After more than 50 years in ministry, I've learned something I wish every young minister understood before stepping into a pulpit:

The higher people lift you, the further you have to fall.

And sometimes, the very people who put you on that pedestal will be the first ones to knock you off.

I've watched gifted men and women begin their ministries with sincere hearts and a genuine desire to serve God. They loved Jesus, loved people, and wanted to make a difference.

God used them. Lives were changed. Ministries grew.

Then something began to happen.

People started telling them how extraordinary they were. They were called specially chosen, wonderfully anointed, and uniquely gifted. Some were treated almost as though they were above the struggles ordinary Christians face.

And eventually, some began believing what people said about them.

That's when admiration can become dangerous.

The Pastor Who Never Let Us See Him Sweat

When I began training for ministry, there was a pastor I greatly admired.

He seemed to handle everything beautifully. He never let anyone see him sweat, fail, or fall.

When frustration overwhelmed him, he would sometimes disappear until he calmed down. Then he'd return as though nothing had happened.

As a young man preparing for ministry, I assumed that was what spiritual leadership was supposed to look like.

And I wasn't alone.

Several of us were learning from his example.

Without anyone necessarily saying the words, we learned that ministers were supposed to be bulletproof.

You couldn't show your tears.

You couldn't admit your frustration.

You couldn't talk about your worries.

You had to be the strong one. Always.

And so we tried.

But something was terribly wrong with what we were learning.

We were being taught how to look strong without being taught what to do when we were weak.

We learned how to hide our struggles, but not how to work through them.

We learned how to appear confident, but not how to ask for help.

Sadly, some of those young men eventually fell by the wayside. I believe some might have continued serving if they'd known that admitting weakness wasn't the same as failing God.

But nobody had shown us how.

When the Image Becomes More Important Than the Integrity

Now consider what happens when a minister who has learned to hide weakness begins experiencing success.

People admire his preaching. They praise his wisdom. They tell him how wonderfully God is using him.

And perhaps he begins to believe he's different.

That he must always have the answers.

That he cannot admit weakness.

That his reputation must be protected at all costs.

Eventually, something dangerous happens.

The image becomes more important than the integrity.

When temptation comes, he doesn't seek help. He hides it.

When he makes a mistake, he doesn't confess it. He covers it.

And when he desperately needs someone to talk to, he remains silent because he's afraid people will discover he's human.

The very pedestal that makes him look powerful has become a prison.

Scripture warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV):

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”

That warning applies to every believer, regardless of age, experience, or position.

The greatest danger isn't necessarily how far someone might fall. It's reaching the place where he no longer believes he can fall at all.

God Showed Me a Better Way

Fortunately, God brought a couple of people into my life who demonstrated something different.

They showed me that spiritual maturity didn't mean pretending I had no problems.

It meant knowing where to take those problems.

They taught me that I could admit I was struggling, ask questions, seek counsel, and acknowledge that I didn't have every answer.

And doing those things didn't make me less of a servant of God.

It helped me become a healthier one.

Those people made an enormous difference in my life.

And because they did, I've tried to do the same for others throughout my ministry.

I've wanted younger ministers to understand that they don't have to carry every burden alone. They don't have to pretend they're bulletproof. And they certainly don't have to wait until they're falling apart before asking for help.

Paul learned this lesson when God told him in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV):

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Think about that.

God didn't promise Paul that he'd eventually become so spiritually mature that he'd never experience weakness again.

He promised that His grace would be sufficient.

God never called us to be bulletproof. He called us to be faithful.

And faithfulness includes the humility to admit when we need help.

When Someone Falls

We've all seen the heartbreaking reports of prominent Christian leaders whose private failures eventually became public.

Families suffer. Congregations suffer. People who trusted a spiritual leader struggle to understand what happened.

And sometimes innocent people have been deeply wounded.

We must never minimize that harm.

Those who have been hurt deserve protection, compassion, and justice. Those who have done wrong must accept responsibility.

But there's something else we must remember.

Accountability and restoration are not enemies.

Galatians 6:1 teaches believers to restore someone caught in sin gently, while remaining watchful of their own vulnerability.

Restoration doesn't necessarily mean returning someone to leadership. Forgiveness doesn't erase consequences, and genuine repentance requires more than words.

Sometimes healing means stepping away, accepting responsibility, receiving help, and learning how to live honestly again.

But no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.

And when someone falls, our purpose shouldn't be to stand around celebrating how far he fell.

Our purpose should be to respond with truth, wisdom, compassion, and a willingness to help where help is appropriate.

A Word to Young Ministers

Recently, I spoke with a young man beginning his ministry. He's intelligent, enthusiastic, and genuinely passionate about serving God.

As we talked, I found myself wanting to share something I wish I'd understood when I was his age.

Don't be in a hurry to stand on a pedestal.

You don't need a grand title to have a genuine calling.

You don't need public recognition to be useful to God.

And you certainly don't need people telling you how wonderful you are to prove your ministry matters.

Take time to grow.

Take time to learn.

Allow God to develop your character as carefully as He develops your gifts.

Find people who will tell you the truth, not simply what you want to hear.

Find someone experienced enough to recognize dangers you may not yet recognize yourself.

And remember this:

Your calling is to serve God and meet people's needs, not to impress them.

Ministry can be painful. People will misunderstand you. Some will criticize you unfairly. Others may disappoint you deeply.

Sometimes the very people you've sacrificed to help will become the source of your greatest sorrow.

That's why you need more than talent, enthusiasm, or a title.

You need a genuine relationship with Jesus, a willingness to keep learning, and trustworthy people who will walk alongside you.

A Word to the Congregation

There's another responsibility we must acknowledge.

Sometimes congregations help build the very pedestals that later become dangerous.

We praise our pastors, celebrate their accomplishments, and tell them how wonderful they are.

But sometimes we forget that they have needs, too.

We expect them to handle every crisis calmly, answer every question wisely, and remain strong regardless of what they're experiencing.

Then we're disappointed when we discover they're ordinary human beings.

If you love your pastor, pray for him.

Encourage him.

Allow him to rest.

Allow him to have honest friendships.

And don't expect him to be Jesus.

Your pastor needs the same grace he preaches about.

Don't place him so high that he becomes afraid to admit he needs help.

And don't make his humanity something he has to apologize for.

The Safest Place in Ministry

After all these years, I've come to believe something very strongly:

The safest place for a servant of God is not on a pedestal. It's on his knees.

When we're on our knees, we remember who God is.

And we remember who we are.

We're not the Savior.

We're not the source of grace.

We're simply people whom God has graciously allowed to serve.

And that is a tremendous privilege.

But it's also a responsibility we were never intended to carry alone.

If there's one thing I hope you remember from this message, it's this:

The strongest Christian isn't necessarily the one who never lets anyone see him struggle. Sometimes it's the one who has the courage to admit he's struggling and the wisdom to reach out for help.

If you've spent years pretending to be stronger than you are, you can begin being honest today.

If you've been carrying burdens alone, you can reach out to someone trustworthy.

If you've made mistakes, you can take responsibility, seek forgiveness, and begin the journey toward healing.

And if you're just beginning your ministry, you have a wonderful opportunity to build something healthy from the very beginning.

After more than 50 years of ministry, some of my greatest blessings have come through people who helped me when I was struggling.

And one of my greatest privileges has been helping others the same way.

That's how the body of Christ is supposed to work.

We encourage one another.

We strengthen one another.

And when someone stumbles, we offer a helping hand rather than another shove toward the ground.

There may still be consequences to face and wounds that need healing. But those realities don't place someone beyond God's love.

So, stay humble.

Stay accountable.

Stay teachable.

Keep walking with Jesus.

Keep loving people.

And when you need help, don't be afraid to ask.

Because the goal of ministry was never to have people look up to us.

The goal has always been to help people look up to Jesus.

And when they do, we've done our job.

🎙️ Continue the Conversation

Growing in Faith: A Conversation with Alex Horton

What does it mean to answer God's calling while you're still learning, growing, and discovering who you are in Christ?

Join David W. Ebel for an encouraging conversation with Alex Horton, a 22-year-old Christian author, Bible teacher, and ordained minister.

Alex shares how he moved from loneliness and uncertainty into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Together, we explore the importance of humility, spiritual growth, serving others, and learning to depend on God's grace.

Whether you're beginning your Christian journey or have walked with Jesus for many years, this conversation reminds us that we never stop learning.

It's not about having all the answers. It's about knowing the One who does.

🎧 Watch or Listen to Our Conversation with Alex Horton

Available on God Says Yes Podcast.

Real people. Real problems. God can say YES in your situation.

God Says Yes Podcast
Real people. Real problems. God can say YES in your situation.

GodSaysYesPodcast.com