Ministry is hard no matter what you do. Paul tells Timothy, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (1 Tim. 3:16). Jesus told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33a). Life with God is difficult and helping people live for Jesus can be all the more challenging. Still, there is one thing that will make ministry seem impossible: doing ministry for God.
You might be thinking, “Wait, well then who else are we to be doing ministry for?” But this is the wrong question. We were never meant to do ministry “for” God, we were meant to do ministry “with” God, in relationship and partnership with him. Consider Jesus’ famous warning at the end of the Sermon on the Mount:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” — Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)
There is a way to do things for God (“did we not prophesy…and do many mighty works in your name?”) and not with him (Jesus says, “I never knew you”). If you do ministry for God — continually trying to impress him and do good things so he’ll enjoy you — you will burn out and be unfruitful. But if you do ministry with God — constantly finding where he is moving and joining in with his activity — you will last for your whole lifetime. I have seen these two different scenarios play out countless times. Doing ministry with God — in full relationship with him — will always help you last.
So how do you know if you’re doing ministry with God instead of for him? Here are some diagnostic questions and ideas to help you find the answer:
When you work FOR God….
-you expect accolades
-you’re sad when no one notices
-you critique leaders
-you lack vision
-you view team members as means to your end
-your personal bible reading/prayer life diminishes
-your joy is based off of your performance
-you feel shame about hidden sin
When you work WITH God…
-you expect nothing
-you’re pleased when no one notices work
-you see the greater vision of the small work
-you view team members as brothers/sisters, and you see their well-being as more important than the job that is to get done.
-your personal bible reading and prayer time is consistent (not necessarily flourishing)
-you are happy while exhausted
-you confess
Ultimately, your walk with Jesus will save your ministry and maybe even your own life. Read Scripture and be encourage: ministry is not a performance for God, but a participation in work with him and in him. He’s that good.
