A recent conversation highlighted the tragic downfall of a well-known pastor who had fallen into moral sin. Despite building a great ministry, he succumbed to failure, raising questions about how such a respected figure could fall so deeply. This situation reflects a progression that can occur when passion for God shifts subtly over time.
When individuals begin their ministry, they are often driven by an intense passion for God. This burning desire fuels great works and inspires others. As one preacher famously said, “Set yourself on fire and people will come to watch you burn.” Passion for God is a catalyst for effective ministry. Passive Christians may accomplish good works, but it is often those with fervent passion who build impactful and lasting ministries.
A passion for God leads to sacrifices, dedication, and unwavering focus on serving Him. However, over time, this passion can unknowingly shift. Without careful attention, passion for God can transform into passion for the ministry itself. The same sacrifices are made, but now the focus subtly shifts to building the work rather than worshiping the God behind it. What once was an offering to God becomes an effort to sustain or grow the ministry. This change is often imperceptible, even to the individual experiencing it.
As ministry success grows, recognition and praise from others follow. This introduces the next shift—passion for the ministry evolves into passion for self. The focus shifts from serving God to serving personal reputation and status. The ministry becomes secondary to self-promotion and pride. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). The satisfaction of self takes precedence over the mission of God. When the fire that once fueled passion for God begins burning for personal gain, the fall becomes inevitable.
Fire is powerful and essential. It can generate energy and drive productivity, but if misdirected, it can also destroy. The same fire that once burned for God, if turned inward, can wreak havoc. This destructive shift is the root of many moral failures within ministry. A passion for God, left unchecked, can gradually become a passion for self.
This pattern is not unique. Many respected leaders have fallen because the fire shifted from God to self. Even those who recall their early zeal recognize how the fire appeared to persist, but in reality, it had changed direction. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). What once was a holy flame became a consuming fire of self-interest.
For those currently experiencing an intense passion for God, take heed. The fire that burns for the work of God must remain centered on Him alone. The shift from passion for God to passion for ministry, and eventually to passion for self, is subtle but dangerous. Guard the heart diligently, for it determines the course of life (Proverbs 4:23). Let the fire remain a beacon for God’s glory rather than a spark for self-destruction.
This cycle explains how those who once burned brightly for God can fall so profoundly into sin. Passion must always be directed towards God, not the recognition or success that may come from ministry. In doing so, the fire remains pure, and the work remains an offering of service rather than a pursuit of self.