MOTIVES MATTER

 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)

The work of the pastor necessitates that much of the spiritual service he renders is done in a public forum.  In fact, all believers are to exhibit good works in order to glorify God though them.  That, however, is the issue.  I have found that knowing what to do is not so much a question, as to knowing why I do it—and motives matter.  Man may look at the outward results of a minister’s work—how many pack the pews and how much cash is in the collection plate—and brand that pastor a success, while God may look at his work as hay, wood, and straw, for it was done to glorify the pastor and not the Lord.  It was work in the flesh, for the flesh, and appealing to the flesh.  On the other hand, there is nothing necessarily commendable about a lack of growth or shortages in funding the mission—maybe that pastor is just incompetent or lazy!  The heart is what matters most, and what God judges.  I was again reminded of this as I read these words from Randy Pope last week:

Ministries designed to reach the unchurched (thus committed to healthy growth) can easily become vehicles for delivering personal significance through public accomplishment.  Large ministries, like large back accounts, most often become monsters that devour their leaders.

Our goal as church leaders should not be to grow large ministries that reach unchurched people but to build discipling ministries that develop mature followers of Christ who, in turn, reach large numbers of unchurched people.

Though the two approaches to ministry described…may appear to be very similar, the ministry that invests in the individual through discipleship, with the intent of preparing him to reach the lost world, represents an animal much different from the selfish ambition monster that ultimately devours its leader. (The Intentional Church, pp.40-41)

So let us have a great passion: to make disciples, for a grand purpose: to glorify God!  Then, when ministry is outwardly flourishing, the success will not become our ruin, or when there are seasons when the fruit seems scarce, we will not become discouraged and tempted to quit.  We will not compare ourselves with other pastors, and succumb to conceit in times of blessing, nor covetous in times of barrenness.  After all, it isn’t about us.  Keep check not just on the weekly attendance and offering totals, but evaluate your heart condition.  Motives matter to our Master and so they must matter to the minister.