The Other Side of Ministry
My mentor once said ‘If your understanding of ministry is not service, you will soon become a tyrant’.
Ministry is simply servanthood. The word minister is translated ‘diakonia’ in Greek which means ‘servant’, waiter. One who attends to the needs of others. The work of ministry involves making huge sacrifices.
It’s disheartening that what attracts most people to ministry today is the glamour in it. Most of the ministers we look up to did not start the way we see them now. When they sought the kingdom of God, He decided to add other things to them. (Matthew 6:33). If the’ other things’ are the basis of your attraction to do the work of ministry, you have gotten it all wrong.
The work of ministry must proceed from a pure and sincere heart. Compassion for souls must consume you and dislodge every unholy desires. If you are in ministry for dishonest gain, you will soon make merchandise of men. A minister is expected to serve the people not take advantage of them. It is an arduous labour that can only be rewarded by God. Yes, it’s not always glamorous as what we see on the outside.
There is an other side of ministry people don’t see (I like to call it ‘The labour side’). I know you are familiar with the soundness of Apostle Paul. He had a revelation of Jesus, he did more than the other Apostles, he wrote more epistles, he planted more churches, he enjoyed partnership from churches, he had more platforms to preach, more souls to save and so on. But do you know on the other side of these things is an arduous labour?
Paul described his own experience in 2Corinthians 11: 23-28: Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool- I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in death oftens, from the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned: three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep: in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers,perils of my countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among the false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness, often in hunger and in thirst, in fastings often , in cold and nakedness- besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (All emphasis mine)
He highlighted all the perils he faced in ministry and the sacrifices he made day and night, yet he said, his greatest concern was not what he went through but it was for the churches. He wasn’t talking about the building but about the people. His genuine concern was evident in the way he prayed for the churches constantly, he often sent them letters to feed and discipline them. He sent his companions in ministry severally to check on their well being. This is the heart of a shepherd not one who seeks to take advantage of the flock or make merchandise of men.
Ministry requires a lot of self denial, you are to labour in word and doctrine, this will require several sleepless nights, staying on your knees to intercede for souls. Friends will leave you, there will be important functions you won’t be part of, relationships that are good but not God- options you would have to let go, letting go of things that are lawful but not expedient, seemingly good opportunities you won’t be able to accept because of ministry, sleepless nights, endless study, and giving time, substance, comfort into the work of ministry and a lot more that cannot be put in words. It is a life totally yielded to God. Living the life, before preaching it. It dawned on me that only God can reward such arduous labour. My boast in not in the things I go through but the strength of God that carries me through every process.
Dear Minister, you are not alone. Your labour might not be obvious to men but it is conspicuous before God, your rewarder. You may not seem great before men on earth but great is your recognition before the Father for the souls you labour over day and night. Purge your heart of unholy desires, embrace your calling and fulfill your ministry. There is no better place to be than at the centre of God’s will for your life. Be encouraged!
I will be praying for you.
