Empire Versus Kingdom

Have you ever caught yourself thinking about your church or ministry in terms of “me and mine”? It’s a common trap. We can become so focused on our own needs, successes, and recognition that we miss the bigger picture of what it means to be part of a community.

This empire mindset often prioritises personal gain and status, and we see it play out in church culture, where success is often measured by numbers—attendance, followers, and influence.

But the kingdom flips this script completely. It’s about “ours and theirs,” focusing on the collective good and the flourishing of all of us together.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we nurturing an environment where everyone can grow, or are we accidentally building our own little empires?

We’re called to build the body of Christ, not a brand.

Our mission goes beyond just loving our own church; it’s about loving the bride and genuinly loving others. The heart of the kingdom beats for community, connection, and mutual support. We need to recognise that our needs are deeply intertwined with those of others. We shouldn't just ask God to meet our needs; we should be open to how He can use us to meet the needs of those around us.

Have you heard the story about the long spoon? It goes like this: In a certain place, there were two groups of people, one in heaven and one in hell. They all had long spoons tied to their arms that made it impossible to feed themselves. The people in hell were starving because they couldn’t get the food to their mouths, while those in heaven were thriving. Why? Because instead of trying to feed themselves, the people in heaven used their long spoons to feed one another. This story is a vivid illustration of the power of generosity and community. It reminds us that our well-being is not just about meeting our own needs, but about serving each other.

When we fixate on building our own platforms, we can easily lose sight of the core mission: to love God and love people.

The pressure to keep up appearances or grow a following can become suffocating, often distracting us from the essence of our faith.

In contrast, embracing the kingdom mindset brings us freedom. We shed the burdens of needing to impress others and instead find the space to serve authentically. So I ask you: whose kingdom are we really building? Are we pouring our energy into something that serves our agenda, or are we aligning ourselves with God’s purpose for His kingdom?

This is a question we all need to reflect on—whether you’re a leader in the church, a volunteer, or simply a follower of Jesus. We must regularly assess our motives.

Are we serving God, or is He serving us? Are we trying to grow a big church or ministry to advance the kingdom or to feel valued in this complex world?

It can quickly become about the size of our churches, youth groups, and ministries. We can start with pure motives to reveal Jesus to a generation but fall into the trap of using it to feed our egos. We can preach about identity but struggle with insecurity and low self-esteem. We can write posts about not comparing ourselves to others while refreshing our feeds every ten minutes to see who’s reading. We can repost a picture saying "choose joy" but feel miserable from Monday to Saturday. We can continually talk about grace but show it very little.

So I ask you: are you serving God, or is He serving you? Are you trying to grow a big church or big ministry to take ground for the kingdom or to feel valuable and significant in this thing we call life? (Of course, no one will ever admit it, but it happens a lot in church life.) Are you leading, preaching, singing, or posting for validation, or to truly bless those around you?

This isn’t just a question for pastors and leaders; it’s a challenge for every single one of us as Christians. We’re all called to build the kingdom.

So, let’s be real with ourselves. Let’s shift our focus from what we can gain to what we can give. Let’s fully embrace the generous spirit of the kingdom, trusting that as we pour into others, we’ll find ourselves enriched in ways we never expected.

Together, let’s be vessels of His love. When we do this, we’re not just building a church; we’re igniting a movement that can change lives and advance the kingdom—because in giving, we truly find ourselves.