We are men like you

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,  - Acts 14.14-15

Barnabas and Paul were causing quite a scheme with all they we doing. While in Lystra they healed a lame man. When they did that the people were stunned and wanted to worship them. They though that Zeus and Hermes and Zeus' priests came to them to offer sacrifices to them.

When it happened Paul and Barnabas we amazed, embarrassed, shocked, and appalled. In the custom of he day they tore their clothes in despair.

'Why are you doing this? We are no better than you are!'

But then they were sharp enough and bold enough to seize the moment.

‘Don’t worship us,’ they said, ‘but we’ll tell who you should worship.’

I like that these guys took every opportunity to share the gospel. This crowd didn't listen, they continued to try to worship Paul and Barnabas, but that doesn't negate the fact that they tried to share.

But I think there is another application here. I doubt that any of us will ever be confused with false gods, but there can be a temptation to accept elevation and adulation. This is especially dangerous for those who are in places of authority.

We all like praise. We all like to be encouraged. We all like it when someone tells us what a great job we did or what a great sermon we preached or how wonderful we are for caring. But, if we are not careful, we can start to believe it and think that we really are something special.

If we ever forget that ‘we are men just like you’ we get ourselves in great danger.  We are all in the same boat. We had better remember that ‘we are all people of the same nature’ and none is any better than the other.