Titles and status

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” Luke 11:43
In Luke 11 and Matt. 23 Jesus pronounces several woes on the Pharisees. Here is one that unfortunately is still prevalent today, in our workplaces and even in our churches. People crave titles and status. How much more important would it make you feel to be introduced as ‘Doctor So-and-so’? Even the use of the word ‘Pastor’ as a title, can cause that person to see themselves as having a higher status than others. This is completely contrary to what Jesus tells us our attitude should be.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher’, for you have one Teacher, the Christ” (Matt. 23:8-10).
“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:25-28).
The very word ‘minister’ means to serve. When did ‘the ministry’ become a thing of status?