“Keeping Ministry in Perspective”

Scripture: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” –Galatians 1:10, NIV

Through this thing we call life, one thing we are charged to do from time-to-time is place things in their respective perspective. In other words, we ought to understand the rationale/reason of why we do things. As a husband and stepfather, I come to work daily because my rationale/reason is to continuously take care of my family and provide for them as best as I can. As an employee, my rationale/reason is to conduct quality reviews on my cases that would result in cases being completed, with the potential to line me up for greater assignments and tougher challenges. Each of us has a something we ought to keep in perspective. On today, God wants you to keep your ministry in perspective as well. Mind you, because you are not a “licensed preacher of the Gospel” does not mean that you do not have a ministry. We all have ministries – ministry of compassion, ministry of love, ministry of help, ministry of encouragement, and others. Through the eyes of the Apostle Paul, he will help us understand more about keeping our respective ministries in perspective.

Our message for today is found in Paul’s epistle to the church at Galatia. Scholars have stated that this book may have been written between 48 and 55 A.D. Within this church, Paul had to deal with some Jewish converts as well as Gentile converts. In this day and age we live in today, it’s imperative to have a spirit that allows you to work with different types of people. It’s imperative to have a spirit that does the best one can to get along with his/her fellow man. Within this introductory chapter, Paul releases his initial greetings (verses 1 – 5), along with discussing that there’s no other Gospel (verses 6 – 10) and Paul explained how he was called by God (verses 11 – 24). In Paul’s discussion of there being no other Gospel is where we find today’s main scripture and how he challenges us to keep our ministries in perspective.

Paul begins today’s text with this question, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?” Doesn’t this make you scratch your head for a moment? Oftentimes, we get caught up when we are singing praises unto God and yet, look for man to pat us on the back. This leads to the question Paul asked, are you doing it for man’s approval or for God’s approval? There are times where we have preached God’s Word and thoroughly enjoy it when everyone praises us for the Word, but is it you that deserves the glory or is it God that deserves the glory? Is it men that you are trying to appease or is it God you’re trying to appease? Whatever you do ministry wise, whether if the ministry is in or outside of the four walls of the church, keep it in perspective and ask yourself, who am I doing this for!

Paul asked this initial question, but provides an answer that should be our answer. He says this: “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ”. When you teaching the Word of God, remember that you are doing it as a servant of Christ with the intent of pleasing God! When you are preaching the Word of God, remember that you are doing it as a servant of Christ with the intent of pleasing God! When you are the husband of one wife, you are doing it as a servant of Christ with the intent of pleasing God and loving your wife as Christ loved the church! When you are the wife of one husband, you are doing it as a servant of Christ with the intent of pleasing God and being able to submit to the covering God gave you. When you are an employee on your respective job, you are doing it as a servant of Christ with the intent of pleasing God and allowing your light to shine where men can see God in you! Whatever you do, keep your ministry in perspective, and know that you are a servant of Christ that is not trying to please man, but please God!

In closing, ministry can be and is hard work! Nevertheless, with the help of God and keeping it in perspective, we are not here to obtain man’s approval, but we are here as servants of Christ and looking to receive approval from the Almighty God! Are you looking for, as we mentioned in a previous message, “Man’s Stamp of Approval” or “God’s Stamp of Approval”?