Being Someone in Ministry

Often our ministry to others hinges more on who we are than it does on the words we say. Words are critical but the reality of who we credibly are is far more vital.

A minister who is a workaholic cannot credibly preach on rest. We can only teach others what we already live ourselves.

Often we accomplish so little in ministry because we focus too much on doing and not enough on being. Often once we are the person God intends us to be than we can accomplish things.

Of course we will never be perfect and we should never let our imperfections make us feel inadequate to serve. If we know we are inadequate we have likely learned far more than we imagine. The natural mind never sees itself as spiritually inadequate.

God is always with us in our efforts but our efforts are greatly magnified by first becoming someone. Who we are has a great influence on the success of what we say.

Being before Doing

In the world a person often becomes successful by doing. They are "no one" and then they do something and then they are "someone."

Of course the world's view of what makes "someone" important is often an issue, but it is not my interest today. Rather what I find interesting is that in Christianity we must always become "someone" before we can do anything.

Our becoming someone is getting into right relation with God. It is faith and relationship with God through his son Jesus that makes us someone. We must first trust in the saving work of God and then works flow out of our relationship with God.

In faith we must always be someone before we can do anything. It is often a great disaster to attempt to do before we have gotten into right relation with God.