The Pinnacle of Ministry

In some Christian circles, the teaching ministry of a pastor is seen as the most important role God gives people.  I do not believe this is true.  This view has unfortunately led to many preachers being elevated in the eyes of people within the church who can also aspire to be "up front" rather than being content to improve their service unto the LORD in their current situation.  The apostle Paul did not preach himself but Christ crucified and did not desire notoriety for himself.  In the minds of some people the opposite was true, for they criticised his manner of speaking lame and found his physical presence weak.  His detractors claimed Paul's letters were much more inspiring than seeing him speak in person.  Certainly they believed others were better suited for the teaching role--and maybe they thought they could do better.

While the teaching ministry of the church is critical and invaluable, there are countless other roles in the Body of Christ the church that are just as vital.  1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."  God appoints people in the church to serve in a variety of ways as they use the gifts He provides by His grace.  Paul went on to say walking in love towards God and others is the highest calling in the church, and in every role or gifting God gives provides, the love of Jesus ought to mark us.  Since people will know we are Christians by our love for one another, Christ's love through us can lead others to salvation by faith in Him.

There are genuine believers in the church who will never teach a Bible study or preach a sermon.  That is perfectly sensible, even as a nose cannot walk or a hand cannot digest food.  It would be a grave error to imagine a preaching or teaching ministry is the pinnacle of Christian service when Jesus is the Head of the Church Who humbled Himself, washed feet, and gave His life for others.  It is far more profitable to have the mind that whatever God gives or gifts you to do, use it with all your might for His glory.  It may be God has given you skill in administration or helps:  put your hand to the plough in practicing and refining your ability doing what God has gifted and enabled you to do rather than thinking you must go to seminary to be a better Christian.  If God has given you a spouse or children, you are called to teach them by the manner of your life, from the scripture, with your mouth and by faithfulness to love as Jesus loves you.  The pinnacle of ministry is to love like Jesus.

The opportunities outside the church are just as important as service within the church as Christians are led by God to share His love everywhere they go.  Practical service is a powerful testimony of God's love to people whether they know Jesus or not.  Lending a tool, offering a lift, giving a financial gift, helping someone struggling to walk up stairs or listening to someone who is emotionally troubled are just a handful of ways we can give of our time and resources to minister to others in God's love--regardless if you have a paid position in a church fellowship or not.  No one is hindered in fruitfulness to the LORD because they are not currently serving in a formal teaching role.  Let the love of Jesus and the light of the Gospel shine through our lives in all we do whether we sing or speak up front, are on the sound team streaming the service, or if we follow along in our Bibles and take notes.  God orchestrates more opportunities than we can imagine to serve the LORD when we are willing and obedient to follow Him.

Living By God's Word

The value of the Bible in the life of a born-again Christian cannot be overstated because it is the primary means of God speaking directly to us.  It is the eternal plumbline of righteousness, the benchmark of God's truth and revealed character before which all notions, theories and opinions of man must yield.  The scriptures spoken by God make us wise unto salvation by faith which is in Christ Jesus.  God's word guides us to do the things that please Him and keeps us from sin.  Satan's question posed to Eve concerning what God said eroded her resolve to avoid sin and the deceivers tactics have not changed to this day:  plant seeds of doubt of what God has said, contradict God's word and encourage people to act as God by doing what is right in their own eyes.

It is no surprise when unbelieving people in the world butcher the scriptures, distorting them according to their own bias and desires, but it is tragic when this happens in the church.  Lately I have noticed a trend (which is not new) to take well-known passages of scriptures and use them to convey a message foreign to scripture.  Jesus responded to Satan's temptation in Luke 4:4, "...It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"  With an aim to encourage people to give money for social causes a pastor was recently quoted as saying, "We don't live by bread alone but by our giving we provide a voice, we provide funding to the voice of change."  Imagine that the word of God could be replaced by people giving money!  The word of God makes a man wise to eternal salvation, and it is incredible from the pulpit the voice of God would be shushed and altered.

On the subject of God's sovereignty and faithful provision Jesus commanded His disciples not to worry.  

He said in Matthew 6:31-33, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  The guiding principles of a modern Christian organisation said, "Seek first the opportunity to enable fruitful collaboration before doing anything alone."  Imagine substituting the priority of seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness with first seeking people to collaborate with--as if we could be fruitful in our human efforts without God who enables us to do everything He commands!  The righteousness of a Christian is by faith in Jesus alone, and when we cease looking to Christ our labours will be in vain.

Paul's passionate exhortation in 2 Timothy 4:1-2 is vital for pastor and parishioner alike in our conduct and speech:  "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."  According to the riches of His grace God has given us His word He exalted above His own name (Psalm 138:2).  As stewards of His truth by the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are to preach the word readily and faithfully.  A day will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but let us be those who proclaim it by walking accordingly always.  Jesus alone has the words of life, so let us live by them!

Sit in the Lowest Seat

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:11

Jesus set forth this principle in His teaching we see exemplified throughout scripture.  He spoke a parable to the lawyers and Pharisees after observing how they jockeyed for position to secure the best seats for themselves.  In that culture and time the placement of a seat conveyed social status, and these men sought honour for themselves.  Jesus explained it was better to humbly take the lower seat at the feast and for the host to provide a better seat than to proudly take the best seat and be humiliated when directed by the host to take the worst seat.  The LORD Jesus used this dynamic to reveal spiritual truth they did not comprehend, for the one who humbles himself now before God will be exalted later by Him.

This principle applies, not only in social settings, but in the reading and study of God's word.  The Bible provides an unvarnished view of humanity throughout its pages, whether it describes the stubbornness and unbelief of the Hebrews in the wilderness or the disciples arguing about who among them was the greatest.  We wonder how people who witnessed the 10 plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea and the visible presence of God leading would refuse to enter into the promised land out of fear of man.  We might be tempted to laugh and mock at the apostles for foolishness that seems ironic because they had walked with Jesus for years.  Surely we would do better!  When we adopt this attitude, we exhibit those who have an exalted view of self.

It is vastly more practically and spiritually profitable for us to take the lowest place.  When we read of various people in the Bible who were unbelieving, hypocrites, slaves to vices, forgetful, spiritually weak Jews and Gentiles, we ought to assume that place and identify with them because we acknowledge we might as well be looking at ourselves in a mirror.  Consider the implications of Romans 2:1 when we stand in judgment of people in the scriptures for their faults with scornful pride:  "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."  To point out unbelief reveals we also are guilty of unbelief in varying degrees, for the Bible cannot be broken.  We like to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and this is a vice we do well to acknowledge, repent of and forsake.  No matter how much we have grown, most of us have a long way to go.

Jesus humbled Himself and became the servant of all, and we are to have His mind whether we are choosing a seat at the table or reading a passage of scripture.  Jesus deserved the highest seat at the table and to be served, yet He chose to leave the seat of honour and humbled Himself to wash all the disciple's feet.  He gave us an example of humility that ought to permeate our thinking and choices whether we are at home with the family, at work or play, with our neighbours, in church or on holiday.  The one who exalts himself by thinking he is worthy or entitled to honour will be humbled, and he who humbles himself God will exalt by His grace.  This principle is a promise we ought to take to heart.

All These Things

At the beginning of the first Star Wars movie (Episode 4, A New Hope), Luke Skywalker was a farm boy in a barren desert who would rather be anywhere else.  His eyes were on the stars and his heart drawn to serve in the rebellion against the empire.  He was not interested to drive around in his land speeder when he could be flying through space in a starfighter engaged in combat on an important mission.  It seemed he was going nowhere in Tatooine, and all the meaningful opportunities that could offer excitement and satisfaction were somewhere else in the galaxy.

The perspective of Luke on Tatooine is not uncommon among people today.  Whether it be a dead-end job, the drudgery of school, a health struggle or conflict due to relationships, we might want to be "anywhere but here."  Dissatisfied with where we are or by what we are obligated to do, we imagine there is something out there that will provide what we are looking or longing for.  In His wisdom, God created man needy with hunger and desires.  He designed us to have physical, emotional and spiritual needs only He can supply.  While it is natural for man to pursue what he needs and wants and worry when supplies run out, Jesus taught His disciples to trust God to provide all we need now and forever.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Jesus commanded His followers not to worry or be preoccupied, burdened with cares of their future.  Their eyes weren't to be focused on trying to find a better job, more money, a spouse or an open door to a mission field:  in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all the things they needed would be added to them in due time.  In trusting and following Jesus Who is the Way, He would wisely lead them according to God's will step by step.  Instead of worrying about what is unknown or out of our control, there is rest in knowing God who rules over all.

Jesus is the Door to the kingdom of God open to all people by grace through faith in Him.  He is righteous, and by faith in Him God's righteousness is imputed to every believer.  Having received the Gospel, we are called to walk according to it.  Paul wrote in Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."  Even as the righteousness and salvation of a Christian are gifts provided by faith in God, so is the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the job, shelter, relationships and ministry opportunities.  We need not be preoccupied with seeking open doors or worry we are missing out, for as we seek and follow Jesus He will open countless doors for us to enter no man can shut.  Righteousness and all we need for this life and that to come is abundantly supplied through Christ alone.