Consider some of these positions in ministry: the CEO of an operating an outreach mission, the first person moving bringing your service to worship, the associate or assistant pastor, youth pastor/worship leader, administrative assistant, teacher, deacon, custodian, choir director, treasurer, clerk, greeter, “food cookers”, events planner, parking lot attendant, lingual interpreter, tithing collector, altar usher, video/effects/sound engineers/editors, the what I’ll call “muscle” behind venues being changed or set up, pastor/bishop, security watchpersons; needless to say that this lists the beginning of endless commitments and responsibilities that we as children of God put our best efforts.
I have a revelation for some of us and a reminder for others. The hidden secret to effective ministry is having a love of God in your heart.
Paul began to reveal this hidden gem in the beginning of 1 Corinthians 13:
[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
[3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
[10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
[11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
[12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
[13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
At times I have read this in the past and had only received it from an “on the surface” understanding. At first I thought, “well if I love people than I can help people”. I learned soon enough that through a season of strenuous weeks upon weeks with it beginning to feel more like the daily grind (or work in other words) that I began to clearly see that I was not only growing stale spiritually but slowly began to weaken. And as I’m sure that you have felt this before I began to ask God, “God how can I be weaker when I work so hard in your church and in ministry basically full-time?!?” You see, I had not begun to establish the connection of what the scripture was truly addressing, and this is what I address to all of us today.
Then after some prayer and studying I came to this conclusion: you can go work in ministry to your hearts content and make a difference but you will not continue or last in being able to do so without a love of God to keep you spiritually. You could be the most talented person in your church right now and succeed in your gift but fail in the part that matters most! If you cannot be continual and a vessel that can be used in or out of season (or anytime) than the outreach and work becomes a hot or cold ministry: effective at times while hindering in others.
So take it from Paul as he was one that truly understood the meaning of being a worldwide missionary for Christ: without love the effectiveness of your ministry and church will not continue!
Sow this seed in your spirit and take that next step!