John Maxwell gave me this plaque when I came on staff under him at Skyline Church. “I don’t have to survive”. I didn’t know what the heck that meant but, honestly, it kind of scared me! It doesn’t sound good does it? It especially didn’t sound good to a young, inexperienced kid just getting started in ministry. I wanted to survive. I wanted to THRIVE! In fact, I wanted to be a STAR in ministry! I don’t have to survive??? YES I DO!!
Now, almost 20 years later, I still have that plaque on my wall. Have I survived? Yes, and no. Yes, because I’m still here…in ministry…truly wanting to serve God by reaching kids for Christ through equipping other leaders to do so. But no, I haven’t survived in many ways. Thoughts of being a “star” went away a long time ago – there’s no place for “stars” in ministry. Some of my unrealistic expectations haven’t survived…and that’s a good thing! And I haven’t survived all the places I’ve served at…that was very hard to take, very confusing, very hurtful. I haven’t always survived relationships…not everyone liked me or the decisions I’ve made in ministry. My ideas haven’t always survived…some were downright bad and failed miserably. There’s a lot about me and my ministry that hasn’t survived the last 20 years. But…it wasn’t and isn’t about me…I don’t have to survive!
So what is it about? What is it that needs to survive? Oh, yes…there’s a verse on the plaque, too:
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24
I’ve been given an assignment. As a minister of the Gospel I serve God in an assigned role, and Who I serve and the message I tell is what must (and will!) survive. Me…I’m just a messenger..a servant…I don’t have to survive.
I am transitioning right now into a new ministry, and that is a great reminder for me.
Thank you for encouragement.
Great post.
That’s cool.
As a quasi-survivor of ministry ups and downs, I can relate. I’m striving to finish the long race of life by filling it every day with the work that the Lord has given me to do, whether it feels like “I”, my ego, my self, is surviving or not. Perhaps it’s the life crucified with Christ that allows us to live the life of Christ.
Thankfully, God knows just how to prune off some branches – those that won’t survive – so that the rest of our lives and ministry thrive and bear much fruit!