THE FOUNDATION OF FAITHFUL AND FRUITFUL MINISTRY

 

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  (1 Timothy 4:12)

Timothy was able to stay true despite his timidity, while Demas fled despite his ability (2 Tim.4:9).  Peter, with all his failings, persisted while Judas, with all his skill, perished.  What makes the difference?  Character!  It is the indispensable foundation for faithful and fruitful ministry.  No amount of competence in pastoral skill can overcome character flaws.  We may be charming communicators, but if we do not seek to model the sermon as well as deliver it, then it is all hollow—and without the touch of heaven.  Balaam spoke the truth, but his heart was mercenary.  He was a hireling—a false prophet—not so much because he taught error, but his heart was wicked and that was the ultimate deception.  He knew the vocabulary of Scripture, but did not know the Author.  If the foundation is merely hearing the doctrine in seminary class, then it is sand and the storms of ministry trials will bring collapse—if not here and now, then on the Judgment Day.  To hear and obey is the solid rock of Biblical conviction that issue in true character and righteous conduct.

Even the best of us will struggle and sometimes stumble.  Let us not use grace, as a license to yield to temptation, however!  If we are born again, and God has called us into the ministry, may we not rationalize our surrender to sin as, “I’m only human!”  That is a lie!  If we are God’s child, then the Holy Spirit indwells us.  Yes, we are human, but more—we have become partakers of the Divine nature!  Read 2 Peter 1:2-11.

Clarence Macartney put it like this:

 

The better the man, the better the preacher.  When he kneels by the bed of the dying or when he mounts the pulpit stairs, then every self-denial he has made, every Christian forbearance he has shown, every resistance to sin and temptation will come back to strengthen his arm and give conviction to his voice.  Likewise, every evasion of duty, every indulgence of self, every compromise with evil, every unworthy thought, word or deed, will be there at the head of the pulpit stairs to meet the minister on Sunday morning, to take the light from his eye, the power from his blow, the ring from his voice, and the joy from his heart.

Character is the foundation of faithful and fruitful ministry.  Let us strive to be competent in the ministry we do, but chiefly let us seek to have character as the ministers we are!