THE
SHEPHERD’S REWARD!
Matt
10:16
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in
the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Luke
6:22-23
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you,
and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you,
and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap
for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the
like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Every now and then a well
respected researcher will provide a long list of reasons why men abandon the
ministry. They usually list long hours, little pay and even less appreciation
as incentives for the minister to quit. Impossible expectations, double
standards, and human conflict add to the depressing weight. But these lists
usually are missing some very important things.
For every human conflict
that the minister must endure there are innumerable steadfast friends! The long
hours of being on call and on the job is balanced by flexibility. For every
disappointing human failure there are countless reasons to rejoice, and even a
few miracles along the way. This is not carpentry or mechanics. It resembles
farming which is subject to the quality of the soil and the timely mixture of
sun and rain. God is the essential ingredient in every success and the comfort
in every loss.
The
concept of ministry is strengthened when the use of
the Greek word doulos is noted. This was the term for a bondslave, one
who was offered his freedom but who voluntarily surrendered that freedom in
order to remain a servant. This idea typified Jesus' purpose, as described by
Paul in Phil 2:7.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Raw statistics cannot,
by themselves, measure the profitability of ministry. If you want to be rich
then enter the marketplace. If you want to be respected become a physician. If
you want power become a lawyer. But if you want to make a difference in the
lives of people for all eternity then the calling of gospel ministry has no
equal.
1
Tim 1:12
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,
who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the
ministry;
Thank you Lord for the for the flock you have placed
in my hands. Let me always be faithful. Let me always measure success and
failure in the same way as you do. AMEN
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