Genuine Concern
Like most genuine preachers and the disciple Paul, my “heart’s desire and prayer to God” is that all might be saved.
Paul goes on to say, “For man believes…and is justified, and he confesses… and… is saved.” Paul continues by reiterating earlier scripture which says, “No one who believes in him [Christ] will be put to shame.”
In a world where honoring and valuing people is usurped by dishonoring and belittling people, it is of great comfort to me to know that if “I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believeth in my heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” For this I am not ashamed. I rejoice that I have a daily and prayerful relationship with God.
In my last appointment before leaving the ministry, church members expressed amazement at how I was in so many places ministering to all members of the congregation.
In the first church I served, the members expressed amazement at how I connected families and relatives so quickly. It was not magic and I do not have a photographic memory. What I had was genuine concern and a heart which desired to bring others closer to God and to minister to His children to the best of my abilities.
It appears to me, and I think there are many who would agree with me on this, there are a lot of so-called ministers today who have forgotten their call to ministry. True, there are exceptions, but I believe what I am about to say is very truthful and representative of many.
It appears to me that many ministers are too busy to be a minister to the children of God. My challenge to these ministers: Look at your daily life and see how much time you are actually ministering to God’s children. How much of your time is spent or dedicated to business and pleasure and how much of your time is spent truly dedicated to p-e-o-p-l-e?
If the majority of your day does not include being present with people who are sick, dying, suffering, confused, hopeless, lost, etc., then go find another calling or profession.
Genuine love of God is a genuine love for people, not buildings, meetings, denominational connections, busy work, numbers, or tee-times. Ministry is about people. The life of a minister should display a genuine desire for others to be loved and saved by God. This, brothers and sisters serving God, requires interaction with people.
To those wonderful ministers who tirelessly serve people, kudos! God bless you. To those ministers who don’t, start working on your explanation to God on why you have not and do not do this for His people.
To whom much is given, much will be required.