To Minister

[RickardoHolmes]

To Minister is to Serve.

I wanted to write a few thoughts on this and as always get some feedback, but l;ast night , after composing the most eloquent Spirit filled speech, I, in my limited Humann-ness hit the red X on the corner of the webpage trying to close a window I had as a reference and erased the whole thing. Guess it was not that eloquent.

If you look up the word "MINISTER" aside from the definition of someone who is paid to work as clergy, or pastor, we see a recurring reference ot the word "SERVICE"
Service to the needs of others.
Many Many Years ago, when I had considered going into theology and the Ministry, I met with a minister from my church and he said that to be a Minister you must understand that the basic underlying job is to Minister to peoples needs as in to take care of them. This goes from providing food and clothes to the needy to getting up at 3 AM to visit a dying person in the Hospital. It means listening to people, understanding their problems, and helping them to find solutions. I thought it was just unlocking the door, writing sermons and shaking hands. As he pointed out, that is the LEAST that they do....
Least? And that is Big. WOW I thought.

What he said stuck with me all these years. We are , in a way, all Ministers, even if we are not paid clergy or ordained deacons. Our calling coems in different forms. Some of you who have talent may sing in a choir, or play an instrument during a service in order to enrich the service through the melodious starins of the Organ or the trumpet. Some of us who cannot instead help by paying for things. I know that I am involved in some community programs which are aimed at struggling families with children in our community. We provide for the needs, or rather "minister" to the needs of these people.

What I have found, is that minsitry brings about a deeper fellowship because when we help others, we in turn bring fulfillment to our own lives. We do this not for any rewards, or glory, in fact, many of the funds we get are anonymous, and the help is all volunteer. But we see the results of this work, and for me, I think of a Man named Jesus who came to earth to Serve, not to be served, a Man to whom service was totally unselfish, and example we all must follow. I do not believe that Jesus "charged" for his mirabcles, the way a doctor would not if we showed up at his office with a headache. Nor do I believe that Jesus did these things to glorify himself, but out of the sheer Love He had for people and a desire to help others. To Me, that is ALL about what the Ministry is: Helping others.
Emanuel Swedenborg once said that on the true measure of charity:
“True charity is the desire to be useful to others without thought of recompense. “

Certainly service is something we find that once started, becomes self-fulfilling in and of itself.
Another "gem" we learn through Christ.

 

[wpage]

Yes to minister is to serve...

When Christ washed the feet of the Apostles B4 His crucifiction it was the ultimate act of humility.

 

[RickardoHolmes]

Yes to minister is to serve...

When Christ washed the feet of the Apostles B4 His crucifiction it was the ultimate act of humility.

Great Example THANKS

 

[Zaac]

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[cubinity]

You've written a great post, here. In it, you reference many of the volunteer things we can do to serve.

I wanted to add upon that the concept that as we go above and beyond in our vocational labor, we do so also as a ministry unto others and as worship unto the Lord.

In my job, I pursue a higher standard than my co-workers precisely because they are working to please their human leaders and to get a reward, while I am diligently working to honor and glorify my heavenly Father and seek whatever He has for me.

So, great post, but I just wanted to add that the ministry certainly extends beyond our volunteer work and into every facet of our lives if we will let it.

 

[RickardoHolmes]

You've written a great post, here. In it, you reference many of the volunteer things we can do to serve.

I wanted to add upon that the concept that as we go above and beyond in our vocational labor, we do so also as a ministry unto others and as worship unto the Lord.

In my job, I pursue a higher standard than my co-workers precisely because they are working to please their human leaders and to get a reward, while I am diligently working to honor and glorify my heavenly Father and seek whatever He has for me.

So, great post, but I just wanted to add that the ministry certainly extends beyond our volunteer work and into every facet of our lives if we will let it.

You are so right. It really needs to extend to our everyday lives. We need to strive to be "those people" to whom others can see that we are serving a higher calling.

When I was a young, my grandmother, who was a very devout Christian told me that beign a Christian is not something you just do on Sundays, but all the time, so that people can always see Christ through you. I remember a song we used to sing called
"Let others see Jesus in you"
Our work is not for our glory and not for our gain. At my work, I have developed a reputation As the "Go-to Guy" when something absolutely has to be done. I am not sure if I deserve that, either. But if it inspires any level of teamwork and makes things any better , then I will do it. And I will get PAID to do it too. But in the end, if I am known for anything, I don't want it to be for how much money I made or what kind of car I could drive. Nothing like that. And I have said again, if my personal journals get discovered in a couple of hundred years DO NOT start a religion based on anything I say or wrote..... Don't even consider it!!!!!! But I would want to be known only personally to those families and individuals to whom I have been able to be part of a solution that has helped them to get through some rough times. Perhaps Someone who wore a cross and acted like he meant it as well. That is good enough for me. If I have to wash a dozen feet to get something done, then I will.