Ministry, Life & Money Part 3

Life Ministry For most, sharing what God has given is a part of our lifestyle. If we are simply depending on the Lord to live His life through us, we may be accomplishing far more in hidden ways than an entire ministry in the public arena. Vocational Ministry The idea that those who minister should be acknowledged, honored and compensated by those receiving ministry is well-founded, both scripturally, culturally, historically and experientially. Yet the nature and duty of a minister is to give, regardless of what is given in return. Ministry and Money Earlier we discussed valuing time and attention. God values these, and needs them to be able to fully develop our relationship with Him. God also values your money. Not because He needs it, but because YOU do—how and when you spend it matters to Him. Money isn’t important to God, but because it’s important to us, He greatly uses it to accomplish His purposes for us—dependence, healing and exposing our flesh. If cooking was the most important thing to us, cooking would be what the Lord used to get our attention. Our finances, and our financial needs, are a primary focus and means by which we control others, God and even ourselves. We gauge how we are doing by our financial status; if we’re doing well financially, God must be pleased with what we’re doing for Him. The Lord knows what needs each of us has, both soulically and in the natural. He has already met them, though He often uses our unmet financial needs to get our attention. But there is absolutely no correlation between the Lord meeting our needs and our involvement in any kind of ministry: We don’t have to be in full-time ministry for the Lord to be meeting our financial needs, in whatever way He chooses.