THE PATH TO PRODUCTIVE MINISTRY

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When I was a young student, twenty-one years old, attending Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, a teacher gave me a bookmark with Proverbs 3:5-6 handwritten on it.  That charted a path for me toward productive ministry.  I was reminded that God alone is worthy of my trust—that Gospel ministry is a grace gift from Him, and is guided by Him for the glory of God Himself.  Places where we train like Fruitland, seminaries where we study like Luther Rice (where I graduated), sermons from successful pastors, and books others have written about sound ministry practices may reinforce God’s Word, but His wisdom is the foundation and only infallible guide.

We are to look to Him, learn from Him, and lean on Him wholeheartedly.  The foolish alternative is to lean on our own ingenuity and ability—charting a course to shipwreck in ministry!  We will be dashed on the rocks of self-sufficiency, that not only will sink us, but drown the passengers on board the ship we pilot!  How can we be so arrogant, when there is an all-knowing and all-powerful God who will steer us, if we look to Him?

Acknowledge God in every dimension of life and ministry.  Do not fret about the problems you face or plot for the position your ambitions want to attain.  Lean on Him and He will guide you.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Paul put it this way:

[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.  (Colossians 1:15-23)

The preeminence of Jesus Christ—acknowledging Him in all our ways—directed Paul’s ministry.  If that doesn’t also define my ministry, I should repent or resign!

When we seek for His wisdom, submit to His work, and step in His ways, then the Lord directs us in the pathway of productivity.  Now, it may not be the celebrity the world commends (and I must say that too often the church has the same carnal standard).  We may not have the church with big buildings and big budgets—with packed pews and profuse praise from the denominational HQ.  What we will have is the favor of God that brings influence now and reward in Heaven, for it is all to the glory of God.

I want to walk a path where my footprints are indelibly marked so others may follow.  I want that to be the flock of my family first—for generations to come if the Lord tarries His return.  Then, I want to be sure I am blazing a trail for the sheep I lead in the local church I serve.  Furthermore, I pray that other young men who come after me in ministry will find the path to productive ministry as I point them to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ!

Driving down the road on the Bible bus, I look in the mirror and observe the passengers that have taken a ride across nearly four decades of ministry—and am grateful to God for each one.  Then, I gaze into the mirror, beyond the passengers, to the road behind me, and see a caravan of buses!  I behold drivers younger than I am—those the Lord has used me to impact, and they now are carrying a church-load of riders down the highway!   This is what productive ministry is all about—not just the number of additions we can report, but the multiplication of ministers we can rejoice over!  To God be the glory!  Great things He has done!

Here is my prayer and I ask you to consider making it yours today:

Dear God,

I once more place my faith fully on You.  You are worthy!  You have demonstrated Your faithfulness time and again.  I am blessed beyond measure—so much more than I deserve.  It is grace that has called me, sustained me and will see me home.  Even when the path has been plagued by problems, You have infused me with power and perseverance.  Forgive me for all those times I have proudly relied on my own understanding.  Keep me from a wreck by ignoring Your way because I think I know best.  Lord, that will not only harm me, but so much worse, those who ride along with me!  In ALL my ways this day I want to acknowledge You and Your ways.  Bring my ministry into alignment with Your Word.  Direct all Your servants whom You have placed in positions of leadership in the Church into the path of productivity.

For the Sake of Christ,

Amen!