It isn’t uncommon for believers to desire that God would use their lives for fruitful and productive purposes. Hearts that are inclined towards the Eternal King will want to make a difference for His Kingdom; they will desire to have a ministry that makes an impact.
Oftentimes, we think an effective ministry is accomplished through having an innovative strategy and novel tactics. And of course, engaging in a dedicated and prayerful planning process is helpful for our efforts to bear fruit. However, if we want to have a sustainable ministry, one that lasts over the course of time, Scripture makes it clear that one of the primary considerations is the content of our character rather than the level of our creative thinking.
2 Peter 1 provides a list of the quantities that we should be striving to cultivate if we desire to be effective in ministry. The apostle writes: “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (2 Pet 1:5-7) Then in the next verse, we learn that these qualities will “keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 1:8). If these qualities prevent ineffectiveness, it makes sense that the converse is also true; having those qualities will help ensure that we remain effective and fruitful. The more our knowledge of God is effective, so will our service of Him be. Therefore, if we long to increase our ministry impact, we should look first not to the next great idea or the latest platform or revolutionary initiative. Instead, we should examine our hearts. If our hearts are aligned with God’s purposes, if our character and our conduct conform to His ways, He is bound to use us for His purposes. And whether the ministry He gives us is large or small in the eyes of others, we can be confident that any stewardship He is working through, will have a long-lasting and eternal impact.
Desiring to have an effective and fruitful ministry is a good thing. However, let us always remember that this desire should be rooted in what God has designed for us – content to serve Him in the way He has prepared and planned. And let us remember that God is more likely to use those of His children that most closely follow Him. Therefore, we should always be working towards aligning our character and our conduct with His ways.
