When the Desire to Do Well Becomes Ungodly
7 common ways we error in our desire to do ministry well.
1. When your sense of security relies on the ministry’s success.
The good news of the gospel is that we are united to God by His grace through faith alone. None of us can earn our place before God, yet, if we are not careful, we may slip into a cycle of evaluating our standing before God on how our ministry is going. Are you overly concerned with performance, the bottom line, or numbers? Are you able to rest in the work of Christ and be content even when success in ministry wanes? The beautiful thing about salvation through faith is that there is never a contest between believers for the time and affections of God. You are already loved, heard, and known, as it is God’s love and sacrifice that serves as the foundation in your relationship to Him. (Romans 5:8, Hebrews 4:15-16)
Is your sense of well-being and emotions overly affected by what happens in ministry? Can you say that your relationship with Christ is your underlying security even when things get rocky?
2. When your identity gets wrapped up in the success of your ministry.
There is a lot of pride that can come from God’s blessings in our lives and ministry is no different. We all have a tendency to find our identity in what we do. Actions are important and certainly tell us volumes about ourselves. However, if you are willing to sacrifice all on the altar of perceived “success” in ministry you are striving towards the wrong goal. With God, the ends do not justify the means. Sometimes failure is necessary. Not allowing something to fail can rob yourself or others of the necessary consequences or an opportunity to grow. God does not measure success in the ways we do. God measures hearts, evaluates trust, and expects obedience. The world measures what can be seen, quantified, and perceived responsiveness. We cannot always assume these two modes of measurement are showing the same thing. In the Bible, Jeremiah’s preaching did not move the nation of Israel to repentance (as God foreknew), but in being obedient he was successful in the ministry God gave him.
3. When it has to happen your way and you can no longer be flexible.
According to 1 Corinthians 12:12-18, we are the Body of Christ. We could all do a better job at working as a team, staying flexible, and (often) keeping to our own lane. Our inflexibility often keeps us from involving others; but how will we train the next generation of believers if they are never given the opportunity to lead or serve? The idols of control and power are too often alive and well under benign looking subtext. Our problem is often that we see others as competition instead of the God-given help they were sent to be. You can have good and right intentions and still be pushing something that is simply your agenda.
There is a real sense that the unbelieving world will be opened to the gospel to the degree that we are able to love one another and treat each other with respect and forgiveness. (John 13:25)
The success of others does not mean we are somehow less. When others share our burden for ministry, but have different ideas as to how the goal should be achieved, our differences can automatically be an excuse for division. There are times separation is necessary but not as a default on the grounds that our leadership has been challenged. Everyone is needed. Good communication is still helpful, kindness often necessary; cooperation, vulnerability, and the courage to address conflict are all crucial. Let us serve one another, and outdo each other in the respect we give.
4. When your service to God eats away at your one-on-one time with God.
We live from the overflow of our heart. Yet, we can serve with our gifts and not be walking in the awareness and power of the Holy Spirit. That means we desperately need personal time with Jesus.
Our character should be beyond reproach and our lifestyle wholesome because God says we are to be holy like Him. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Your personal one-on-one time with God is what matters most. May we never forget that Christ is our portion and prize. Whatever ministry opportunities that come out of our relationship with God are the extras and can never take precedence over the relationship itself. Likewise, ministry cannot be about others’ needs over your own relationship to God. (Revelation 2:2-4)
5. When the predominant desire is to be seen and heard by others.
Ministry cannot be about crowds. It can’t be about telling your story or being seen. If this is you, there is a good chance you may find this unhealthy desire is due to past hurts or insecurities. Are you looking to others in order to feel fulfilled or are you finding your fulfillment in Christ alone? Do you need to see success in worldly terms or are you content to wait? Do you crave attention or the opportunity to speak? Those things may not be, in and of themselves, sinful but if your focus shifts from making much of Jesus and speaking when he directs to focusing on people or the mission’s successfulness alone; you are encountering a heart problem. If your fulfillment comes from being heard you have created an idol. God’s purpose is not to elevate you or your story, God has been and will always be in the business of glorifying Himself.
6. When you’re unable to take correction.
If you see yourself as being better than you really are, you will run the risk of being so swelled up with pride that, you become unteachable. If you cannot acknowledge your own mistakes, you will have trouble cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect with others. Humility is what helps us to put others’ needs before our own. There is a very real sense that if you lack humility you will also lack God’s full blessing on your life and ministry. This is because humility is necessary for all of us in submitting to God’s will. If one must admit their utter need before God when they receive salvation why then, are we not as concerned with cultivating that same humility in our individual service? If you find you struggle with correction, take some time to assess if you are trying to take too much responsibility in the outcome of your service to God or if you are refusing to deal with sin when it is found out.
7. When you fear man more than God or live for any other reason than God’s Glory.
Each of us have done things simply because it is what someone else wanted, each of us must practice wisdom in discerning when and how to compromise with others. This is a part of maintaining good relationships. The problem comes about when the approval of others is your chief concern. This is what we call the fear of man. Honoring others will lead to compromise, servitude, and a life of mediocrity and it is an easy sin to fall prey to. Even in good, healthy discipleship-focused relationships we can admire our leaders so completely we forget that they, too, are sinners saved by grace. Give respect where respect is due, honor where honor is due, but worship the Lord only.
