The Job

Thinking back about the early days when Fred and I were pastoring a small church, I remembered the times when I felt like I was just doing the job. It was a terrible feeling. I remember cleaning the church, sweeping the floors, scrubbing the stairway, and wondering if anybody knew or cared that I was there. I remember the confusion I had when people would criticize us or think we didn’t work hard enough at our ministry job. They didn’t see the hours spent counseling both in our home, walking around town with the ladies, on the phone, or home- visits. They were days dedicated to a job that we did for them, not for us.

Then one day the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, and He said. “I see. I’m here.”

That moment was life changing. It no longer mattered to me if I scrubbed the floors or cleaned the bathrooms, God saw me. He saw my sacrifice, and it was enough for me. Soon I realized I wasn’t doing the job for the people in our church. I was ministering to the Lord. I was doing it for him, not our congregation or even our own self fulfillment, but for HIM. What a difference it made in my life.

I could have saved myself a lot of sadness if I had only recognized my motives sooner. I wanted people to like us and like our church. It was like we had ownership of the church, as if we were a fast-food restaurant, hoping to get more customers than the place down the street. The hurt and jealousy I felt when people left for another church was torment, and felt like I was being ripped to pieces. I know that sounds dramatic, but it was how I felt. I felt like a mama who cooked a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner only to see her kids eat at the neighbor’s house. The pain was tangible and devastating.

My motives were wrong. I wasn’t just doing a job, hoping people would like my husband, me, or our church. I was working for the Lord and if he liked it, that was all that mattered.

Now, years later, I look back on that day when I was scrubbing the stairs. I have many more years of ministry under my belt, and I have been on both sides of the pulpit, so to speak. I have learned that ministry is so much more than the job. It is a life of walking with Jesus and seeing the church as he does, hearing His voice and recognizing that he is the one who builds the church, not me.

Recently, I was in a small prayer meeting worshiping the Lord. I always stand in the front no matter what church I am in and I spent the worship time singing my heart out and praising the Lord. As I stood with my back to the back door, I heard hundreds of voices behind me. When the music stopped and I turned around, there were only three people there. I would have sworn there were hundreds in that room singing. Then, I remembered the day Elisha was surrounded by the enemy and his servant was so afraid. He told his servant, “Don’t be afraid. There are many more with us than there are with them.” Suddenly, his servant could see the vast angelic army surrounding and protecting them. In that moment, I realized I was in the congregation of a multitude worshiping our God.

Ministry isn’t a job or an event. It’s who you are. We are ministers to The Most High God, worshipers, servants, preachers, singers, teachers, evangelists, and intercessors. We aren’t in competition with the church down the street; but in covenant with the church down the street.

Dear friend, if you have been struggling, feeling unappreciated, if you are burdened by your ministry job. If you feel unnoticed and over worked, lay the job down and spend some time in the presence of the Lord. Ministry isn’t intended to be a heavy load. You were called to walk with God and let him carry His church!

2 Kings 6:15-16

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

And he answered, Fear not; for they that are with us are more than they that are with them. ASV Matthew 11:28-30

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

And he answered, Fear not; for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.ASV