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Serve Better by Remembering That Only God is Infinite

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Cease Striving in Ministry Because We Have an Infinite God Only God is infinite! When we understand that, we will stop trying to do ministry in our own strength. When we grasp how limited we are and realize how immeasurable His character, abilities, and ways are, we will cease striving with our own limited resources and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10).

Difference Between an Infinite God and Finite Human Beings

We are able to serve so much better when we acknowledge that we can’t but He can. Here are some differences between God and us:

God doesn’t need to prepare. He can say a word and it is done. He has unlimited power to change lives. We have an infinite God!

We need to be prepared in ministry but no amount of preparation is going to give us limitless power to affect change.

God sees the beginning from the end and knows how to get there. He has limitless wisdom and purity that keeps Him from contradicting Himself. We have an infinite God!

We aren’t always sure what to do and sometimes do the opposite of what we intend.

God knows all things all the time. He can empathize completely. His understanding isn’t merely mental but also experiential through the advent of His Son (Heb. 4:15). We have an infinite God!

We can try to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes to gain a better understanding but we still won’t fully grasp what others experience and feel.

God has unlimited means in bringing people to Himself. What is impossible with man is possible with God (Matt. 19:26). We have an infinite God!

We can try to “be all things to all men” to try to gain inroads into their lives but ultimately we will be limited in what we’re able to do.

Serve Better By Trusting in a God Who Alone is Infinite

Finite beings need an infinite God to accomplish anything of eternal value. Jesus said it well in John 15:5, — “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Knowing this leads to no other recourse but to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him”. The result? “He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Only an infinite God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). He has limitless resources. Let’s cease striving and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10).

Nothing limits our infinite God. Consider all His various attributes using the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download to understand just how limitless He is in all aspects of His being. The more we grasp who He is, the greater will be our trust in Him.

Ministry Isn’t Always Fair!

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

We know life isn’t always fair, but ministry???? Shouldn’t we be able to expect ministry to be fair? Shouldn’t Christians be different than the world?

Reality Check about Fairness in Ministry

If we go into ministry expecting everything to be perfect, we’ll be in for some major disappointments. There will undoubtedly be times when …

we do most of the work and others are recognized more than us.

we get accused of something we never said or did.

we come up with the idea and someone else gets credit for it.

we are allocated less money in the budget to our area than a less established program.

etc., etc.

We must go into ministry knowing that we are serving alongside of fellow human beings who, like us, aren’t perfect. But, we must also know that we serve a God who is always just.

A Just God Even When Ministry Isn’t Fair

We serve a just God who sees all and knows all and always does what is right.

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deut. 32:4)

God may not step into the situation immediately with judgment and correction, but eventually He will right the wrongs. Perhaps we will never see what He does. He may wait until heaven. God is under no obligation to respond to our questions about His ways and timing in exercising His justice. (Take time to read Job 38-42 for God’s response to Job’s “why” questions.) But, we can trust Him to see the big picture and work for our good (Rom. 8:28). He not only has the knowledge and wisdom to know the right timing and way to take care of matters (Isa. 55:9), but He also has the ability to do that which is right and best.

What God Expects of Us in Unfair Situations

Though others may not be fair, God still wants us to do what is right and just. — “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Prov. 21:3) We’re accountable before Him for what we do. And, there will be a day of accounting for those who do us wrong. We don’t have to avenge ourselves.

When we truly believe in a just God, we’re able to let go of resentment, revenge, and regret when ministry isn’t fair. When we keep the focus on serving out of love for God and others, we don’t need life and ministry to be fair. It’s when we make it about ourselves, that we struggle. When, however, it isn’t all about ourselves, we can wait for God’s “well done good and faithful servant” knowing that “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you helped his people …” (Heb. 6:10).

Motivation to Grow in Our Walk with the Lord

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Perhaps you know Christians, maybe even yourself, who don’t seem to be growing in their walk with the Lord. Sadly, some don’t even seem to want to grow. They lack motivation so they rarely read the Bible, pray, engage with fellow believers, etc. Yet, God’s Word encourages us to grow.

Motivation to Grow in Our Walk with the Lord
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Pet. 3:18)

Though none of us will ever arrive at full spiritual maturity in this life and we will err along the way, we should at least “want to” grow. Read Philippians 3:10-14 for the Apostle Paul’s example where he says “I want to know Christ. … Not that I have already obtained all this, … but I press on … I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on …”

Questions to Ask of Ourselves and Others Lacking Motivation to Grow

1) Do we/they truly know the Lord?

We shouldn’t assume everyone who attends our church or Sunday School class is a true believer. It’s possible to talk the talk and appear to walk the walk but not have a personal relationship with the Lord. If not a true believer, then the Holy Spirit doesn’t dwell within to provide the motivation and power to live the Christian life.

2) Do we/they have an adequate understanding of God’s grace?

There’s a reason 2 Peter 3:18, quoted above, says to grow in both knowledge and grace. — “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11-12)

Don’t expect that simply knowing what to do will motivate us enough to do it, or that knowing about God will motivate us to want to know Him better. Grace is God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves. If we don’t have a good sense of how much we need God at the root of all we do, guiding and empowering us, we’ll undoubtedly lack motivation to press on in our walk. Sensing the difficulty of striving to consistently live righteously both on the inside and outwardly, will tend to make us grow weary and give up.

What Are We Doing as a Church to Help People Want to Grow?

God designed the Body of Christ in such a way that we have a part in one another’s growth. — Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:15-16)

We’re to spur one another on and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord (Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thess. 5:11). We dispense God’s grace, a vital component to growth, as we serve one another (1 Pet. 4:10). When we get real with one another about where we are spiritually, we can pray for and with one another in such a way that it has a healing effect (James 5:16).

While structuring programs to accomplish some of this can be helpful, we must keep the focus on people over programs. Both large and small group gatherings can be useful but it may also take one-on-one interaction in non-formal settings. Are we willing to invest into people’s lives in such a way that it affects their motivation to know the Lord?

For Help: Getting Spiritually Fit Discipleship Tool

Giving God Our All?

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

God deserves our all — all of who we are in all of what we do. The question we must ask is if we’re giving Him our all from the depths of our being.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. (Rev. 4:11)

How We Give Back to God What He Deserves

If we’re going to give a deserving God our all, then in whatever we do, …

we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:17)
we do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

Whatever it might be, in each and every aspect of what we do, we live like He deserves our all.

And, we do it with the right heart attitude … “giving thanks to God the Father through Him ” (Col. 3:17). We look at the big picture and don’t just live for the moment. That means we sometimes lay aside our freedoms, our rights, for the good of the whole (1 Cor. 10:31-33; Gal. 5:13). We do what we do as unto Him from the heart (Col. 3:23) not out of duty.

Since we’re self-centered by nature, this can be difficult. We can easily become distracted by everything that clamors for our attention. We can get so consumed by the circumstances of this life, both the good and the bad, that we sometimes forget the One who gave us life.

So, how do we keep the focus on Him? How do we give Him our all as He deserves? It won’t happen by our own striving but rather by His grace and the strength He provides for us in any and all situations.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Cor. 15:10)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:13)

Giving God Our All from a Life Fully Devoted to Him

It’s going to take a life fully devoted to the Lord, one that loves and trusts Him with all of who we are, to do all we do in His name and for His glory.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mk. 12:30)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

Therein comes the motivation and confidence needed. We love Him from the depths of our being because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19) and consequently “want to” align with Him in every area of our lives. We commit all our ways to Him because of His incomparably great wisdom and strength (Ps. 145:3; Isa. 40:28; Eph. 1:19-20). This is a God who deserves our all!

Ministry Efforts Done From the Heart?

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

We’ve previously considered how we’re to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:17) and all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). And, now we reflect on how we’re to do all we do from the heart (Col. 3:23). Though the NIV translates it “with all of your heart” that is by implication. The word for “all” isn’t in the original language but rather “ek psyche” literally meaning “from the soul” often rendered heart. Some translations word it as we’re to work heartily.

What Happens When We Do Ministry Efforts from the Heart

Ministry that comes from the heart rather than out of duty or a need to outwardly conform or please others tends to bear these qualities:

1) authenticity

When we do something from the heart, we mean it. Hence, ministry becomes authentic. We genuinely want to help people because we care. We truly want to glorify God by what we do because we love Him with all of our heart.

2) consistency

When we serve from the heart, we have a sense of accountability whether or not someone is watching for we’re doing what we do “as for the Lord and not for people” (Col. 3:23, NASB) … not for a pastor, ministry leader, or any other member of the Body. Consequently we consistently give it our all.

3) persistence

When it’s a heart issue, it isn’t dependent on outward reward which is good because we don’t always see the results of our labor. The next verse (Col. 3:24) let’s us know that there will be reward but it won’t necessarily be the applause of people and it won’t always come right away. And so, we don’t “become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

It Matters Because God Looks at the Heart

Since ministry done from the heart results in authenticity, consistency, and persistence, is it any wonder God “looks at the heart” in choosing people to serve? — “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)

Serving from our heart stems from loving Him “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” which Jesus identified as the Greatest Commandment (Matt. 22:37-38). His top priority isn’t just that we “do” ministry but that we do it from a heart of love.

Motives and heart attitudes matter to God, not mere external conformity or obedience. Though we might think we’re doing all the right stuff, God may not find pleasure in it. We may not be doing it for the right reasons. We may be inwardly grumbling and have a bad attitude. — “A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.” (Prov. 21:2)

Ministry Endeavors All to the Glory of God?

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Scripture guides us in our ministry endeavors. Two verses in particular, when followed, will keep our ministries on track. Colossians 3:17 exhorts us to do whatever we do in the name of the Lord Jesus, the topic of a previous post. Here we’ll look at doing whatever we do “all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

Questions to Ask to Determine if Our Ministry Endeavors Are All Done to the Glory of God

When we look at some specific Scripture passages that deal with how glory can be brought to God, we can learn how to engage in ministry in ways that glorify Him. While it would be easy to respond positively because that’s our desire, we need a reality check because it’s so easy for us to digress.

1) Are we relying on God and His power to be at work in us to accomplish what we do?

“. . . and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:11-12)

Be real: Sometimes we just want to get things checked off of our “to do” list. If we don’t rely on Him, it will be so easy to fall back on self-determination and self-effort … and that is not for the glory of God.

2) Are we holding on to the promises of God?

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 1:20)

Be real: There are many voices clamoring for us to doubt or water down what we believe. If we don’t stand firm on God’s Word, without wavering, it will be so easy for us to compromise and miss out on God’s true blessings … and that is not to the glory of God.

3) Are we authentic and holding ourselves accountable in what we do?

“Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.'” (Josh. 7:19)

Be real: There will be times that we err. If we don’t commit to doing ministry with honesty and integrity, it will be so easy to cover up or justify when we have done something wrong … and that is not for the glory of God.

4) Are we keeping our attitudes in check, being grateful to God even when adversity or opposition comes in what we do?

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” (Ps. 69:30)

Be real: Things will not always go as we plan. If we don’t learn to be thankful and content in all circumstances, it will be so easy to complain and grumble … and that is not for the glory of God.

5) Are we exercising discernment so we choose what is the best and most righteous way to do what we do?

“… that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

Be real: We’re often faced with many good options. If we don’t stop and pray and think through what God would have us do, it will be so easy to take short cuts or settle for second best out of convenience … and that is not to the glory of God.

6) Are we doing what we do so His grace is “reaching more and more people”?

“… so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 4:15)

Be real: Distractions abound in ministry. If we don’t guard and maintain this as an objective, it will be so easy to become ingrown … and that is not for the glory of God.