Ministry.
What a beautiful word, one that conjures up so many lovely thoughts: Serving God, giving back to God, bring people to Salvation, helping the poor, giving strength to the weak and comfort to those who mourn…Truly fulfilling the complete gospel message.
And the best part is, opportunities for ministry are not hard to find! We are surrounded by opportunities to give of our time, our music, our leadership, our organizational skills, our talents, etc.
But there is something else that the word ministry conjures up in my mind, and it is far from beautiful: Ministry brings us to the place where we will potentially receive praise for what we’ve done. It brings with it great temptation for grandeur, to receive honour that is truly not ours to receive. Those who see us using our God-given talents for His glory will often see nothing but the human vessel that God used to bless them.
I would like to believe that most enter ministry for the right reasons: Because God called them to spread the gospel message in the way God has called them to spread it. Others, however, may enter ministry for the wrong reasons: to receive the praise of men. But whatever the motivation, everyone will find themselves subject to the temptation to be seen and noticed, to receive praise that is not truly ours to receive.
I believe that God called me into ministry and, and I would like to believe that this is my only motivation…
But is it?
Take my worship choir, for example. I continually struggle with the temptation of wanting to “be noticed.” I have searched my heart, and I do not believe this is my primary motivation. But it is a temptation that I must subdue every time I even think about the worship choir.
And then there is the writing ministry. Yes, I write because God has placed it on my heart to do so. But is there, deep inside, also the hidden desire to see my name in print?
And finally, there is a new “ministry” that God has just handed me. I have been named the senior speech therapist for my department at work. Only with much prayer did I accept this position, for I truly believe that it is only in following that we can truly lead. But is there a hidden part of me that longs to be looked up to? To be the “boss?” To be “in control” of everything? Do I secretly desire to be known as “the best senior the department has ever had?”
A recent devotional sent to me by our worship pastor brought me face-to-face with an all-important question: Do I truly love God more than I love ministry? How can I safeguard myself against the stumbling blocks of pride that the devil will not stop throwing my way?
These were the thoughts that clouded my mind as I sat down for my personal worship this morning. I felt that God was directing me to read the book of Revelation, and obediently I flipped to the first chapter. My eyes began to scan the familiar words until I reached verses 9 and 10, the verses that introduce the author of the book: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ…” (Rev 1:9, NKJV)
As I read this, I couldn’t help but think: Wouldn’t it have been tempting for John to feel proud about being the author of these wonderful words?
But the passage continues: “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man…His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” (Rev. 1:12-16)
Yes, wouldn’t it have been tempting to feel proud about being a witness to this fabulous scene?
But that wasn’t John’s reaction at all, and in the next verse lies the secret to how to participate in ministry, something we are all called to do, and still be safeguarded against the stumbling blocks of pride that WILL come our way. John says: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” (Rev. 1:17)
You see, John understood two important things:
1. He understood that he couldn’t have written Revelation without God’s inspiration; and
2. He recognized that he was in the presence of the almighty God and understanding his inadequacy, he fell at Jesus’ feet!
And herein we find the secret to overcoming the temptation of pride in the face of ministry. We need to only attempt ministry when we have a clear understanding that we can’t do it unless God does it through us; and before doing anything else, we must humbly submit ourselves before God’s throne. When we continually keep the vision in our minds of Jesus walking in all His grandeur in His rightful place as King of the universe, then every act of ministry will truly be done to God’s glory!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.