Sometimes we go into ministry with high expectations that soon begin to crumble.
- We expect God to bless our work …. on our terms.
- We expect people to cooperate and agree …. with our agenda.
- We expect all will go well … according to our standards.
When it doesn’t, we become discouraged and possibly disillusioned. Consequently, we then fail to experience and extend the full potential of life in Christ.
Jesus said, “. . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10).
Ministry Expectations in Line with the Life Jesus Came to Give Us
Life abundant doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of wealth and material goods but rather the things that really matter which are sufficient regardless of our circumstances.
The Apostle Paul understood this when he said, “I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Phil. 4:12). Paul experienced the full life Jesus came to give!
Paul went on to say in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Earlier in chapter three, he stated his life ambition: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Phil. 3:10). Paul knew that living in the fullness of Christ would not put him on “Easy Street.”
Jesus never said that the abundant life would be problem-free. And, He certainly never said that it would be defined by our expectations. When we accept these realities, we are ready to experience the full life He came to give. We will not only get the most out of life but we will also put our all into life through ministry. All we do will reflect the full life He came to give.
Right before informing us about that abundant life He came to give, Jesus said . . .
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (Jn. 10:10).
Thieves minimize life. Jesus came to maximize it. Let’s not let our own ministry expectations become those thieves that rob us and others of the true blessing of life in Christ.
Let’s put all of who we are into all of who He is. Then we will have all that truly matters and will be free to extend that to others as we serve.
I expect only to have God’s Grace in my sharing of my gifts to His People and nothing more! As you quoted from Phil. 4:12-13 this mirrors my feelings about my expectations as a servant with humility in my life as a Christian! I do believe that I have experienced suffering through dedicating myself to serve God. Things aren’t always a bed of roses as you serve Him but you do receive Blessings as I have through my service!!! After all, we are in this world as we serve Him but we get blessed through our service!!! As in Eph. 6 we are told to expect attacks from others, even the devil himself. We are to put on Gods’ Armor to protect us from attacks from the world and to pray always for success!!! I am very happy with what I get to do now!!! God Bless You For Helping Me!!! Your Servant in Christ, Leonard!
How true, Leonard, that “things aren’t always a bed of roses as you you serve Him.” Yet, as you said, we are still blessed. We must always remember that “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). “ALL” includes attacks from the devil, the world, other people, and any other kind of hardship. We must also remember what God told the Apostle Paul regarding the thorn in his flesh. It would apply to anything we are experiencing too. — “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 10:9-10).