What is Ministry?
What is ministry? For years, I believed ministry was preaching either behind the pulpit or around the world. Although I had a love for God since a young age, I never saw myself as a minister. Ministry required a sacrifice I was not ready to commit to when I was living in the world. However, as I grew closer to God and allowed Him to do a work in me, I stepped into becoming a leader in my church. Even then, my outlook on ministry was limited. One night during a prayer meeting, my Apostle asked those of us in attendance, “Who wanted to quit their job and enter into ministry full time?” While everyone raised their hands, I kept mine down.
My outlook on full-time ministry included taking care of the church building and praying and counseling church members throughout a day. Although commendable and needed, my desire as a leader was not that. I liked the security of a job, but even more, if I had the freedom to be released from my job, I desired the ability to work on personal endeavors.
Later, as I began to second-guess my decision of desiring full-time ministry versus pursing other endeavors, the idea, “Isn’t that ministry,” popped into my head. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) says: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Therefore, if I desire to be an entrepreneur and build my business or businesses on the foundation of God, then, why isn’t that considered ministry?
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) says: “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” Therefore, everything you do is a ministry. The way you show up in your family, in your job, in your neighborhood – it’s all ministry.
Therefore, we should ask God to help us steward our current ministries well so if He desires, He can grow our ministries to greater. Every area of our lives is special and unique, so we should steward every area with care and love. Be open for what God wants to do through us and follow where He leads us.
