We live in a world where people feel like they have to prove themselves. And honestly, I get it. Everybody wants to be taken seriously. Everybody wants to be respected. Everybody wants to feel like they matter. So we chase things that look like credibility—certificates, classes, titles, “I’ve been trained,” “I’ve studied,” “I’ve passed,” “I’ve earned.”

And listen… learning is good. Training is good. Education is good. If you love God, you should love truth. You should want to grow. You should want to understand Scripture deeper. You should want to be sharper, wiser, and more grounded than you were last year.

But there’s a problem that sneaks in, and it’s subtle, and it’s dangerous… and it’s when achievements start turning into a crown.

It’s when people start talking like their accomplishments are the reason they should be listened to.

And in the church, that’s where things get twisted, because the Kingdom of God doesn’t work like the world does. In the world, authority is handed out by institutions. In the world, credibility comes from a résumé. In the world, you earn the right to speak by stacking enough “proof” behind your name.

But in God’s church, authority doesn’t come from man. It comes from God.

That’s the part people forget.

Because you can pass a written test and still be unsubmitted to Christ. You can learn all the right answers and still have the wrong spirit. You can quote Scripture and still not obey it. You can win debates and still lose your witness.

And I’ve watched it happen… not just in other places, but in the church as a whole. People start leaning on “what they know” like it automatically makes them qualified to lead God’s people.

But knowledge isn’t the same thing as spiritual authority.

The Bible even warns us about this. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. That means knowledge can inflate you. It can make you feel bigger than you are. And if you’re not careful, you start thinking your Bible knowledge makes you spiritual, when really all it’s doing is making you confident.

And confidence without surrender is a dangerous combination.

Because real spiritual authority doesn’t come from being impressive. It comes from being appointed. It comes from being formed. It comes from being broken in the right ways. It comes from being faithful when nobody sees it. It comes from being steady when you’re misunderstood. It comes from serving when you could’ve demanded recognition.

That’s why the people who are truly called don’t usually have to keep announcing it.

They just live it.

Over time, you see it. You see their fruit. You see their humility. You see their consistency. You see their love. You see their obedience. You see that they’re not trying to climb on top of people—they’re trying to lift people up.

And that’s what Jesus said matters. Matthew 7:16 says you’ll know them by their fruit. Not by their vocabulary. Not by their confidence. Not by their schooling. Not by their credentials. By their fruit.

Because fruit can’t be faked forever.

Eventually, what’s inside you shows up in how you treat people. It shows up in how you handle correction. It shows up in how you speak when you’re challenged. It shows up in whether you build unity or stir division. It shows up in whether you’re teachable or untouchable.

And one of the biggest warning signs in a church is when someone starts using their background like it outranks Scripture.

You know what I mean. It’s when the tone changes. It’s no longer, “What does the Bible say?” It becomes, “Well I was trained…” or “I studied…” or “I know better…”

But here’s the truth: education does not outrank the Word of God.

Experience does not outrank Scripture.

Confidence does not outrank calling.

And nobody gets to claim authority over God’s people while ignoring God’s authority.

Because the church isn’t built on who sounds the smartest. The church is built on who is surrendered the deepest.

And this is where it gets uncomfortable, because the enemy doesn’t always attack the church with obvious sin. Sometimes he attacks it with spiritual pride that looks holy. Pride that sounds spiritual. Pride that hides behind “truth,” but has no love in it. Pride that demands a platform instead of earning trust. Pride that corrects people to crush them instead of restore them.

And God is very clear about how He feels about pride.

James 4:6 says God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

That’s not a small warning. That’s not God saying, “Hey, don’t do that.” That’s God saying, “If you’re proud, I’m opposing you.”

And nobody wants to be trying to lead in the church while God Himself is resisting them.

So here’s what I want us to remember—especially if you love serving, teaching, leading, helping, and being involved in ministry.

The goal is not to be seen as qualified.

The goal is to be found faithful.

Faithful to Scripture.
Faithful to prayer.
Faithful to truth.
Faithful to love.
Faithful to humility.
Faithful to obedience.

Because God’s calling isn’t proven by your confidence—it’s proven by your character.

God’s authority isn’t proven by your volume—it’s proven by your surrender.

And credibility in the church doesn’t come from achievements.

It comes from fruit.

It comes from a life that’s actually been changed by Jesus.

So if you want to grow, grow. If you want to learn, learn. If you want to be trained, get trained. But never confuse education with anointing. Never confuse achievement with authority. And never confuse knowledge with maturity.

Because you can impress people with a certificate…

…but you can’t impress Heaven with pride.

And the church doesn’t need more self-appointed experts.

It needs more Spirit-filled servants.