The Potential Pitfalls of Ministry

Ministry CAN be and SHOULD be an amazing experience. Ministry is our opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ, following in his steps, doing what he did, reaching those in need, giving when there seems to be nothing left to give. Ministry GROWS us. It grows our LOVE for others—you cannot serve people and NOT love them, just like you cannot pray for people and NOT love them. The more you get AROUND people the more you start to see that people MATTER. But… as good as ministry CAN be there’s a flipside to how bad it COULD be.

When the things you DO are more important than the GOD you serve; ministry = idolatry.

• Your quiet time (Bible reading, prayer, journaling, etc.) become non-existent because you’re already connecting with God while serving.
• Your family time is cut short because the majority of time is spent at church or other activities (people who AREN’T your spouse or children).
• You start to think about all the good YOU’RE doing and forget it’s GOD working through you.
• You get burnt out, quit everything you’re doing, and since you haven’t been working on your personal relationship with God for a while, you quit that too.

Just because it’s a GOOD thing doesn’t mean it’s a GOD thing. Don’t overdo it. Make sure the MAIN THING remains the MAIN THING and remember ministry is something you do WITH God, not FOR God.