My friend Perry Noble, who is Pastor of an amazing church called NewSpring, is also a kind of professional cheerleader for other Pastors. We’re not really friends, I’ve never actually even met him, I just like reading his blog. Below is a summary of a recent post he made that is applicable to all of us who are working in ministry, both staff and volunteers. But I think it also has application to our whole walk with the Lord through life, as well as any good thing we set out to do. Four questions to ask yourself from time to time:
1. Did I Really Think This Would Be Easy?
Then Jesus said to them:
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Luke 9.23-24
Where in the world did we ever get the idea that this was supposed to be easy? We are followers of Jesus…and He went all the way to to cross, yet for some reason we think he’s called us to recline. A Pastor or church minister complaining that ministry is difficult is as obvious as a Navy Seal complaining that the Navy is difficult. Of course it is. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Thinking that ministry should be easy is one of the quickest ways to lose heart and quit! It will never be easy, it will always be worth it.
2. Did I Really Think I Had This All Figured Out?
about three thousand were added to their number that day
Acts 2.41
There is no way you could possibly begin to know what God is going to do in your church in the next 3-5 years. Strategic plans are important (we’re working on one now) but when it comes to serving the kingdom of God, they are of limited value. And these days, we simply have no idea what the condition of the world will be in the next 3-5 years…much less what our church is going to look like. We’ve simply got to learn to listen to the voice of God and follow him one step at a time. And, when our well devised plans and strategies seem to fall short…its probably time to refocus on him and his plan. The story of Pentecost, and the phenomenal growth of the apostolic church was not the result of a strategic plan, it was the fruit of men who were completely focused on the Lord Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. Did I Really Think I Could Please Everyone?
All the people were furious…they drove him out of town
Luke 4.28
This was the reaction Jesus received in his own hometown. If He could not please everyone…neither can you!
When we make it our goal to keep the sheep happy…we will wind up disappointing the Chief Shepherd…and live a ministry life of disappointment and frustration.
4. Did I Really Think I Could Do This On My Own?
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord
Zechariah 4.6
One of the things that success can do to us (if we are not careful) is force us into a mindset that we are somehow responsible for God’s blessing and we’ve got to work really hard to “out-do” ourselves…and, the result of this type of thinking is always burnout and unbelievable stress. God called us so that he would work THROUGH us…and HIS power working through us is ALWAYS the difference maker. Allowing him to work in us, preparing us, revealing himself to us and shaping us is essential to faithfulness and fruitfulness in ministry.
