The keys to ministry
| Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2Corinthians4:1-2) |
But how do we execute and act on this ministry?
Firstly we must understand what ministry is. The Greek word that Paul uses is diakonia (from which we get "deacon") and it means to serve. Ministry is not a title or a status. Ministry is about serving. It is about doing what the Master wishes for those He loves.
Secondly we don't possess this ministry - we haven't earned or deserved it. It's a gift that comes from the mercy of God. I really worry when I hear people cling to ministry as a status. We can never really say "MY ministry is xyz..." Paul uses the participle form of "have". One should really translate "therefore since through God's mercy we are ones having this ministry..." This puts "having" in the weakest possible sense. Ministry is much more about the God who gives ministry to us than about us who "have" it. God could use the angels to make this world a better place or He could do it all by His great power, but He chooses to share this work with us.
Thirdly, because this ministry is His and not ours, we don't lose heart. We do our best and leave the results to Him. We don't take too much ownership of success or failure. We just do what He asks.
Fourthly, when we are secure in the fact that this is God's ministry and not ours we are less tempted to try and get things done by "hook or by crook." Secrets, shameful ways, deception and distortion are not God's tools of the trade.
Fifthly, it is not our status or position that needs to be put on display, but our lives that are lived in line with the Scriptures that people - whether they agree with us or not - will see God's Word lived out in our lives.
