I had a really good talk with a friend of mine yesterday that had to do with our leaving to Arkansas. He made some very compelling arguments and some very honest assessments. It is too bad it took us leaving to come to this point in a relationship where we can speak freely in love to each other. I can say that there are a few of the men in Colorado that I would have liked to have known better and wished it had gotten to that “point”. It seems we are all too worried about our precious feelings to really communicate…it, in my opinion, severely, tragically, beautifully, honestly deepens a relationship and it’s because of the relationship that it can go that real…it kind of builds upon itself.
Oh well, speaking of being side tracked, that has nothing to do with what I wanted to blog about! ;-)
Ministry – what is it and what does it mean to you? This is a question that was brought up by my good friend. It stunned me because I had never really thought about it. It always seemed like the definition is “helping”. That when I am in ministry I am a “helper” to God. Not that He needs ME, but He does use us. It’s a great and wonderful place to be used by the Lord. However, my friends assessment is that it’s more, much more. Listening to his definition and reasoning, it kind of made sense. I am sure that if he reads this he will “clarify” or correct anything that I screw up here…but, he likened it to your family. That your family is your immediate sphere of influence..however, your church being an extension of your family deserves the same commitment as your inner, immediate sphere. He used Paul as an example and the life that he lead in ministry. So, if that’s true my question is, does ANYONE really live their life in their ministry? I can see inward that I put my immediate family with their wants, needs and desires above all other periphery. Am I alone in that, is that wrong? That sounds like the topic for another blog at a later date. I have to stay focused here..sorry. So, who is living out life in the ministry and what do they do that separates themselves in it? What does it truly mean? As I look around, who can I use as a mentor in this? Who is a real life example? Is there anyone living this today? Let’s evaluate the qualifications… Their yes should be yes and their no should be no. They should love the Lord their God with all their hearts, minds and souls. Loving their neighbors as themselves. They should know when to say yes and when to say no. They should follow through with what they say they would do and do it forever or at least until there is a clear cut sign that it’s done. Anyone know anybody like that?
It’s a pretty hefty commitment. But, does God deserve any less? I would agree…he deserves my all. I will no longer commit to any man (as long as I remember) or church or team…but, be cautious about all my commitments in the future…and commit only to the Lord and be listening for His voice in moving me or keeping me. It was a very good talk yesterday.
One final thing – are there things that you have committed to that you’ve let go? See proverbs 6 about such matters! J
Have you said something will change that has remained the same?
Have you changed something only to revert back to your old ways?
Have you said that you wanted to start something, gotten started, then quit?
Have you ever encouraged others to movement, then not move yourself?
Have you ever had an idea and when it came to be never moved toward it?
Join the club! Maybe we can all change together! I don't think there is a more important ministry than being a witness and representative of the Lord in your every day walk. To that end, be extra careful and diligent...let your Yes be Yes...and if you say that you are going to do something, DO IT. My old pastor used to say the the battle cry of the baptist is "I'll try!!!". Let's be doers and not just hearers of the Word...
Don't get me wrong, I am not attempting to justify myself by the faults of others...but, merely stating that we all have a long way to go...and that we should do just that. Get going.
5 comments:
Relationships often get deeper and much more profound when two things happen. The first is ministry. Really working side by side in ministry deepens a relationship significantly. Secondly, hardship or big decisions or general need will often greatly deepen friendships.
It might be sad, but we are definitly wired so that these types of things will either bring people together, or push them apart. It's often true of our relationship with the Lord also, as well as our relationships with each other.
Or, maybe your friend is just sad and pathetic...
Grumpy
Paul is a great example of commitment to “ministry,” to God’s work, as are the rest of the writers of the New Testament. Paul just wrote more about this commitment, probably mostly because he just plain wrote more. It seems weird sometimes to compare our lives in ministry with the Apostles. They didn’t appear to have any type of life “outside” of ministry. This is why it can be helpful to also look at what Paul says to others about their ministry. It is clear in Scripture that the Apostles were not trying to deny people in the Body their families and their “lives.” However, they didn’t see this as separate from being engaged in the ministry at hand, the work of God. It all was to come under the preview of God’s intent for their lives. In fact, the common refrain was that these are your brothers and sisters, so to be committed to encourage (spiritually), lift up, and minister to each other. Paul’s message to these people was, over and over, to fulfill the ministries set before them, to be committed to doing the work of God in their lives, to consider that as their top priority within their lives.
>>So, if that’s true my question is, does ANYONE really live their life in their ministry?<<
Does anyone do this perfectly, with no hint of flesh bringing any level of selfishness into their hearts and actions? Well, there was this one guy, who lived a while back…
If the question is, does ANYONE live their lives committed to the work of God going on in their spiritual family, willing to sacrifice of their own lives, and even of the lives of their families, for the purpose of the ministry of God set before them? If so, my answer is, absolutely. I could probably name at least 30 such people that I know. Many of them are in “professional ministry,” but many are not. In fact, a few of them are in your very church. I know that you know some of these people.
>>As I look around, who can I use as a mentor in this? Who is a real life example?<<
I don’t know any in Arkansas, though I bet there are plenty there as well.
>>I will no longer commit to any man (as long as I remember) or church or team…but, be cautious about all my commitments in the future…and commit only to the Lord and be listening for His voice in moving me or keeping me.<<
In one way, this is exactly the right response. All commitments to ministry are a commitment to God, to fulfill His work (the part that I am to engage). However, if by this, you mean that you will not verbally commit to ministry to a church, ministry, or brothers and sisters in Christ, that is the wrong response.
We often make our commitment to God and His ministry through committing to others. You see this in the Bible. Once again, look at the Apostle Paul, who regularly asked for and got commitments from people to various ministries, and then encouraged them to complete them. Jesus asked for commitments from people for specific ministries. In Scriptural ministry, it is often foundational.
The reason for this is because churches, ministries, and even interpersonal ministry among brothers could not practically function without it. Imagine a church or ministry starting a ministry without any type of commitment from those who are commissioned to carry out the ministry. Imagine anyone being willing to join such a ministry if the leadership is not so committed. Imagine any leaders being willing to engage such a ministry if the people involved were not so committed. A ministry would be foolish to start a worship service, an outreach ministry, even a Bible Study without significant commitments from leaders, and perhaps some attendants. This is part of what Jesus talked about in being good stewards, and about considering if your army has enough soldiers to win the battle. It is one foundational element to good ministry.
Good post. I appreciate your integrity to look this issue in the face. The number of Christians willing to do that IS definitely getting smaller.
(Continued) I think you nailed it when you said "Paul is a great example"...I love the fact that he was human all over the place that wanted to be more. That argued with Barnabas about Mark(??) and they even broke up on the mission (that they probably both committed to) because of it. Only to want to have Mark later because he was beneficial to him. He may have been wrong on that initially, but, who's to really say except God.
Yeah, he was the real deal.
While you bring up great points, I think you are mixing apples with oranges here. It is one thing to discuss those who will live their lives committed to their ministries, and another to talk about having no flaws in their ministry. Both valid, but different.
I would agree that just filling spots can be a valuable thing, in that work needs to get done, but that it is not the way God intends any of us to be in our ministries. Some are not taking tasks by the horns because they are filling a spot they are best designed for, but are doing what needs to be done. Others are just too timid in what they are doing, being too comfortable, whatever.
We've talked about this stuff before. Besides the flaws of the Pastor of said church, a void of people who are willing to run with the horses is the next biggest problem we have at the church. Few to no people who are hard chargers, willing to make and give their all to the ministry that God has for them.
When I talk of people in the church who are living it as you defined, I'm sure your not thinking of the people that I am. I think you'd be surprised who I'm referring to, though you would agree with me. These are not the people that I would consider the best people to mentor you in this area. Most or all of those would exist outside your place of fellowship.
As to my effectiveness in making a variety of changes, you are absolutely correct. We have changed literally dozens of things (perhaps hundreds), and failed on many others that we have set out to do. It is the failures that people remember and hold on to, and that often have the biggest impact.
I couldn't agree more with you on the problems this can and does create. However, I'm pretty sure that most of these failures are not due to lack of commitment to the ministry God has before me, but most often poor strategy.
It comes in large part from the schizophrenic problem I have in ministry at this church, and that I am not seeing a clear way through it. Internal vision versus external vision. Poor strategy is not necessarily a better problem to have, by the way.
You are absolutely right that not all commitments are good. Commitments unfulfilled, commitments to the wrong things, probably many other things. Anyway, for what ever reason, presenting change that does not come about is fatally flawed leadership.
>>Sometime being so close to things can blind you.<<
Another absolute truism we have talked about before, and one I am WELL AWARE OF. It is the biggest reason I constantly push for a team of Elders. I easily get too close to things to see them clearly - a major reason for poor strategy.
Good discussion Mike. This part sharpens me a lot.
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