Ministry and Money Part 9

Here are some more common reasons people give for wanting to be involved in ministry: “My parents were ministers; the mantle has fallen on my generation now. Besides, what else would I do?” The Lord’s ministry can’t be passed down from one generation to the next because relationship, His Personal Presence, can’t be passed down. “I want to be able to spend all my energy, efforts and time with God. Being involved in public ministry will keep me safe and in His will.” But the church, and ministry in particular, was never meant to be a haven from the world or a guarantee against making mistakes. “I can do it better than what I see being done.” This probably disqualifies you from that project, at least for now. “Look at all God has done for me! The least I can do for Him is serve Him and His people.” You’re not doing the Lord any favors by trying to do His work for Him. “I want my life to mean something. I want it to have eternal consequences and rewards.” None of us knows what is coming next, so to try to make decisions now, and use the unknown future as a motivator, robs us of the satisfaction and relationship that the Lord has for us in the present. “God healed and set me free. Now I want to heal and free others.” We are to neither give nor withhold according to our own judgment, but in each case depend on the Lord for His direction, resources and results. “I need to help people; I’m happiest ministering to people.” “I’m just following the Great Commission to ‘GO’.” “Even if God didn’t have this ministry planned for me, I’m sure He appreciates all the work I’ve done for Him.”