Purpose Relationships

Carefully Building

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Anytime you are involved in ministry, it is worth revisiting what Paul writes about in I Corinthians. In the opening chapters he reminds us, and the Corinthians, that doing ministry is not about personal acclaim (See I Cor. 1:10-17). After all, we can be diligent in ministry and yet never experience the fruit of our labors. To use his parlance, we may faithfully plant seeds, and another may water, and it is only on the other side of glory that they see the impact that our labor had (See I Cor. 3:6). As I often remind myself, it is not my job to ensure the results of the work I do for the Lord; He has that task completely under control. Instead, I must faithfully serve, and leave the outcome up to Him.

Not only does Paul clearly articulate this concern in I Corinthians, he gives us another motivation for being faithful in how we minister to those God puts in our path. He reminds us in I Corinthians 3:10 that the work that God is doing in someone’s life may not end or begin with our ministry to them. In other words, God may call a fellow believer to build upon what He accomplished through our service. If our service was half-hearted or lack intentionality, then the next person’s work will be more of a challenge. Our ministry impacts the ability of another believer to faithfully minister to the same person. We don’t serve God in a vacuum. The extent to which we represent Him well either enhances or inhibits other believers who may also be “building into” that person’s life.

This can be especially important to remember as we interact with the more challenging people God places in our lives. It can be easy to write them off because we don’t see the impact that our labor is having, but we should be cautious in doing so. After all, it may not be God’s plan for us to experience the change that He is bringing about in that individual.  In loving concern for those who may minister after us, however, we should carefully and faithfully work to build a foundation that will make their ministry easier. We are all aware of how difficult it can be to present the Gospel to someone who has had a bad experience with people claiming to be Christians. We don’t want to be the reason that another believer has a difficult time ministering to someone who previously crossed our path.

If we recognize the importance of this lesson, how will it practically impact our lives? One such way is that it will result in more intentionality in our interactions. Whenever we encounter someone who is not a believer, we should be mindful that our interaction with them may be part of a foundation that God is building. Additionally, as a result we should be more purposeful in our prayers or those that God brings across our path. We should be praying not only that God would do a work in their lives, but that those who will minister in their lives after us will be faithful to the call God puts on their lives. We should be praying not only for how God call us to serve that person; we pray for those who will minister to them long after our lives cease to intersect.

We can be quick to remind ourselves that we are not aware of how God is using each circumstance in our own life to bring about His plan. We should be equally quick to remind ourselves that we are often unaware of how He is using us in other people’s lives to fulfill His purposes. Let us be careful builders, therefore, as we don’t know what other bricks may need to be laid after us and whether our ministry just may be one step in bringing someone to Christ.

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Being Content

Tempted to Compare

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As the holiday shopping season approaches, so does the season of comparison. Parents try to ensure that none of their children feel that they somehow got “shorted” when they compare the gifts they received with what their bothers or sisters obtained. House decorating takes on competitive proportions as adornments are meticulously organized for both inside and outside our abodes. Parties and festivities are often just as much about who has been invited and what people wear as it is about celebrating the occasion. In a culture that often thrives on comparison, it is no wonder that the tendency to do so kicks into high gear during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Of course, the temptation towards comparison isn’t just limited to the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are often quick to look at what we have and evaluate it in light of what someone else acquires or achieves. This inclination even occurs in our walk with God. We see the ministry that someone else has been called to and we desire it for ourselves. We see the gifts that another has been given and we wonder why we haven’t been given the same. We see how God is using our friend or family member in what we deem is enviable ways for His Kingdom and instead of rejoicing at how He is at work through them, we internally complain about why we haven’t been given the same opportunities and chances.

We aren’t alone in this temptation. Peter contended with the same struggle. After denying Jesus three times and returning to his old life of fishing, Jesus graciously appears to Peter and offers him restoration. Christ reminds Peter that he has been given a job (Mt. 16:18) – and that instead of abandoning the call on his life because of the mistake he made, Peter needs to get back to what Christ has called him to do (John 21:15-19). After this merciful restoration, one would think that Peter would plow forward, eagerly setting about to do the task set before him. However, before he does so, he turns around to look at someone else. He sees John and wonders what Jesus has planned for him (John 21:20-22).  Instead of proceeding with what God had so clearly asked of him, Peter starts trying to determine what God may ask of another. He was first distracted from the work that God had called him to do by his sin, then he becomes distracted because he is busy making comparisons.

What Peter needed to do was get to work. He needed to move forward with the task that God had called him to do. Christ makes this clear in His response, lovingly reminding Peter that his obedience should not be dependent on someone else’s call. Instead, God had given him a purpose – he was to be the rock upon which Christ would build his church and it was on that he should focus, not on how or for what purpose God would use someone else.

In a similar way, we need to make sure that we aren’t spending our time making comparisons between what God has given to us and what He has given to another. Whether in regards to gifts, talents, ministry opportunities or anything else, it matters little what God has granted to someone else – what matters is what He has asked of us. We need to remain faithful to what He has set before us, being diligent in obedience and faithful to His call. He will orchestrate the work that He has given all His saints into accomplishing His purposes. Our job is to do the tasks we’ve been given (Eph. 2:10); we can leave the details and the management of the greater plan to Him.

 

Author’s Note – I realized after I had published this post that I had written a similar one in the past. For those that noticed the redundancy – my apologies. Sometimes it’s hard to keep everything straight, and sometimes God impresses the same lesson on your heart in a new way. 

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