Ministry
Luke 10:25-37
While in Cuba recently, I was reminded that getting involved in ministry encumbers your life. The needs in Cuba are off the charts. The pastors barely have enough to eat; their homes need to be condemned because of the lack of resources to repair them. Their cars look like they are spraying for mosquitoes because of the smoky exhaust. The churches are clean but without air-conditioning and the seating are primitive wooden benches. Yet, the pastors that I worked with had a smile on their face as they went about sharing the gospel and giving away what little they have. Reflecting on this reality I confess that I am embarrassed at how much I have yet take for granted. Returning to the U.S. and seeing our homes, churches and automobiles, it just doesn’t seem fair. I can’t help but wonder what excuses will we give God in heaven?
One U.S. preacher said, “I’d love the ministry if it were not for all the messed up people.” God continually gives us opportunities to help those in need, but it always interrupts our life. Ministering to others takes time and requires us to slow down and listen. Allowing a person to unpack their baggage demands a change of priorities.
The Good Samaritan had to reprioritize as he ministered to the beaten man. He had to stop, change directions and postpone his schedule to care for the man that had been beaten and robbed. It required compassion (v.33). It was an expensive ordeal as he bound his wounds, poured oil and wine on him and took care of his lodging and needs (v.34). He was a Samaritan, a type of half breed, rejected by the very man he ministered to. Ministry is risky. It’s costly. It requires sacrifice and causes us to go places and do things that make us uncomfortable. I am learning that the test is on me, not the people in need.Observations Concerning Ministry:
- Ministry is not a vocation. It is not reserved for the professionally trained, educated and ordained. Until every follower of Jesus becomes a minister we will never reach this world for Jesus. In Cuba the most effective ministers of the gospel are men and women who are not qualified to go to seminary because of divorce or some black mark on their lives. The preachers are crossing over to the other side of the road. All Christians are ministers and have a ministry right where they are.
- Ministry is a gift from God to those whose life has been changed. The Pharisees and the priests had lost their compassion for people in need - if they ever had it. Are you using the gift that God has entrusted to you?
- Ministry is going to cost us time, resources, money and misunderstanding. It is going to cost you to get involved with people. We spend more time watching TV than we do in evangelism. We spend more on pet food then we do on missions.
- Ministry requires us to change. God is in the people changing business, but the change needs to occur in our lives before God will use us. In Psalm 51, David could not teach transgressors God’s ways until he was right with God.
- Ministry is often frustrating because we are dealing with people and they are dirty and vulnerable. Don’t get mad at lost people. They are blind. They cannot understand spiritual things. (1Cor 2:14-15)
- Ministry most often occurs outside the walls of the church. Not that ministry is wrong inside of the church, but what is our purpose? Is it not to reach the lost outside the walls?
- Ministry is seeing people through God’s eyes. Seeing them for what God can do in them and desires for them.
Let’s role up our sleeves and ask God to open our eyes to the ministry opportunities
He has placed right in front of us.
