MINISTRY REVISITED

I’m afraid too many folks equate ministry with administration. Rather than doing like Jesus and being in the market place with the people, ministry today too often takes on the idea of something done in offices and other special places where people decide what should be done and then decide how others should do it and/or who should do it. This is not criticism but, I believe an extremely realistic viewpoint.

Jesus’ time spent with his disciples in that upper room giving special instructions did not take up a great deal of time in his ministry. It may seem to be so when looking at John 13ff. But, it occurred during the last week of his public ministry.

For 3½ years less one week he was out there in the trenches where the action was to be found. If you examine carefully you will be drawn to the conclusion he spent most of that week in exactly the same trenches. And, don’t forget he also washed the disciples feet in that room (Jno. 13). Actually, a grand conclusion must be drawn: Jesus was all about ministry and if I am to be about the same thing, I must learn from him. Furthermore, it is not enough just to learn it; one must participate in ministry as a lifestyle. Is that a fair assumption based on the facts?

Ministry (should be a verb as well as a noun) doesn’t happen so often just because we don’t do it. What? Last week we quoted I Corinthians 10:31 to note ministry involves whatever we do for others to the glory of God. Too often we are just afraid to move out of our own comfort zones into the lives of others and get involved in their pain, their needs, and their lives in general.

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. . .And, in the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years (Abraham Lincoln). I guess those two quotes go together; they certainly fit. So often we don’t do something because of our fear of failure and we come to the end of life with an accumulation of not very much accomplished.

So, living is the issue, but it is more than just existence. Losing ourselves in living for Jesus and others is what ministry is all about. At the same time it is a terribly therapeutic experience. One will have little room for self absorption and self pity when one is involved constructively in ministry; i.e., living for Jesus and others.

John Raskon (1819-1900) said it this way: When love and skill go together, expect a masterpiece. That’s Jesus and I believe he wants the same of us (Jno 14:15 & 15:14).

So, ministry might just happen in the upper room among a few but it moves out of the quiet confines of safety into a world of hurt and need and hostility and hate and injustice and child abuse and drug and alcohol abuse and family violence and it goes on and on. But, so does the minister! You are loved with heavenly love. h