alive.

i've moved... sort of. more like bought a 2nd home

In a funk.

WHY DO YOU SERVE THE CHURCH?

Over the past several years of doing ministry I have come across a few pastors and servants of the church who have often found ways to “burn themselves out”.  The idea of burning out in ministry or losing the physical, emotional, and spiritual drive to serve with joy often happens when we fail to have the right mindset as to why we do what we do. 

As a young boy growing up in our local church in La Puente, every year during a youth winter retreat or a church revival gathering I felt an strong leading to follow the Lord when our pastor gave out the alter call.  Following the alter calls I would leave the church sanctuary with a new drive to “do good things”.  Often I would volunteer to help out other leaders, I would sing for the praise and worship team, offer to help assist in Sunday school, even volunteer to close in prayer whenever our meetings, bible studies, or Sunday schools would end.  Looking back on those years, I’d like to say that my heart in repenting of my sins and responding to alter calls was genuine, but why did I find myself repeatedly in situations unsatisfied or even burnt out and apathetic when it came to continually (or consistent) pursuits towards Christ?

A couple of weeks ago I was brought to a passage in the book of Matthew.  In Matthew 3:13-17 we are introduced to an instance in the life of Christ where he is baptized by John the Baptist.  Upon recognizing that Christ had come to the Jordan River John responds by saying “[Truly] I need to be baptized by you” (emphasis mine).   To which Jesus responds that rather it is he who needs to be baptized.  Eventually John baptizes Jesus and Matthew records that in that moment that Jesus was baptized “behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said… 

‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”

The most amazing thing that I had gathered after reading this passage was that Jesus’ earthly ministry had not even begun yet!  Jesus did nothing at this point.  There were no miracles that he performed, no messages that he had given.  In short, Jesus had not started his ministry.  But the most beautiful picture of the love of God comes through what is spoken from the heavens… “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 

How often have we intentionally or unintentionally labeled our service to the Lord as our offering to Him whilst wishing and hoping that the Lord would look upon our work and say, “well done my child” or even “I’m so proud of you for the work that you have done”?  It is my belief that often times in ministry, lay leaders, servants, even pastors of the church mistaken the purpose for why it is that we perform works or serve others in ministry.  Our works and service to the church has no bearing on our identity as children of God!  Our works and service do not affect whether or not God will love us more or less.  Regardless of whether we take on many tasks for the church or even none whatsoever, if we claim to have faith in Him, we are beloved and precious in His sight.

Now before we make yet another mistake and stop committing ourselves to serve the local church, our talents and services to the body of Christ should and needs to be performed out of our love to see the Lord work in and through every individual.  Even though we know that God loves those who have placed their faith in Him, we ought to continue serving not because our service will lead us into deeper favor with the Lord, but because our service encourages and motivates others to seek to know more personally the Savior who loves all of us dearly. 

I wonder how many leaders can spare themselves from the heartache of burning out in ministry or even becoming apathetic towards their service to the church if they just realized that their service is but a mere worshipful response to the love they experience knowing that the Lord’s favor is already upon them?