A friend of mine is studying with Hillsongs in Australia. He sent me an email with this question: "What you believe to be 5 essential requirments for long term success in ministry?" And he asked me to give him my answers.
Clearly, he can't just pinch it off Google.
So I had a bit of a think, and came up with the following. Comments please, and better ideas welcome. I'm in this for the long haul, and if you guys can help me (and Chris in Oz) I'd be grateful too!
1) Worship Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; do it daily and privately as well as weekly and publicly. Make it the core of who you are and be no-one and nothing without it.
2) Live a life of integrity that means people can tell number 1 is happening. It's hard and a real challenge, but without this, number 1 isn't happening. Jesus' litmus test for if people are loving God is: are they loving their neighbour?
3) Do what it takes to keep the passion real. Doing the stuff but losing the passion is every minister's experience and nightmare. It happens. Face it and beat it. Being with Jesus is more than doing his work.
4) Obedience. Obedience. Obedience. Obedience. Obedience. Obedience. Obedience.
5) Enjoy! Laugh a lot! Serving God is a blast! Richard Wurmbrand danced for joy in his cell in communist Rumania not cos he was crazy, and not to annoy his guards, but cos he loved Jesus, and even in the midst of persecution was genuinely filled with joy. So - don't look so miserable. God is good. Enjoy! Laugh! Glory!
What do you think?
1 comment:
Be a receiver as well as a giver.
I know Jesus comments that it's more blessed to give, and pastors the world over abuse this to compensate for their inability to stop pastoring others and for once just let God pastor them. But how can you give people Jesus if you have only yourself on offer?
So: do whatever it takes. Make sure that there are times and places where you let God love you. Just let him love you. Or the rules and responsibilities make us husks that speak of living water with hollow eyes and cracked lips, and you know - that's not how it's supposed to be!
Hmm. Maybe part of this is recognising the problem? That we love the work? But the work doesn't hold us and love us, spread its tent over us and wipe every tear from our eye. Only the Lord does this.
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