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Being Versus Doing: Which is most important in ministry?

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In God’s Book, both being and doing are essential.  However, God does make it clear that what we do grows out of who we are. So, when asking which is most important in ministry, being versus doing, we must conclude that being leads to doing.

Biblical Principles About Being Versus Doing

God clearly states that who we are inside tends to surface in what we say and do.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Lk. 6:45)

God also makes it clear that if we don’t do what we should be doing, something is wrong.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26)

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  (Lk. 6:43)

Practical Application of the Need to Both Be and Do in Ministry

Guard against hypocrisy.  How easy it is for people in ministry to say one thing and do another.  This lack of integrity cuts into the effectiveness of ministry.  Jesus confronted hypocrisy in the religious leaders of His day.  A whole chapter (Matt. 23), along with other isolated passages, is devoted to His pronouncement of woes on their hypocrisy.

Solution:  self-examination and personal accountability.

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  (Matt. 7:5)

Guard against being a stumbling block.  When we do not model Christ-likeness in all we do, we cut into the effectiveness of ministry.  Paul used his own ministry as an example:

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  (2 Cor. 6:3)

Solution:  commitment and determination.

Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. (Rom. 14:13)

Being Versus Doing - Above All Guard Your Heart
Notice:  The solutions are all qualities of being.  Doing the right things grows out of being who we should be. So, to guard against hypocrisy and being a stumbling block, we must guard our hearts.

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10 Replies to “Being Versus Doing: Which is most important in ministry?”

  1. This is excellent material, reflective of obedience to our Lord’s command to study to show thy shelf approved. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Thank you, thank you, thank you. On Christmas day I remembered something someone once said to me, “To have a friend, you must be a friend.” My thought was, “How can you be a friend if you have not first had a friend.” On Christmas I began thinking about this again and thought, “We must own something before we can give it away. What is real love?—and how do we receive it? Real love is unconditional—giving, expecting nothing in return. Real love must be expressed in words and actions. To receive real love we must first hear the Word, then experience the Word as we think on the Word. Who is going to teach us the Word? John 14:26, 1 John 2:27.”

    Today after reading your email I am thinking on the two greatest commandments (disappointed with myself because I don’t remember where they are found). If I am having trouble BEING it is because I am not spending enough time KNOWING— LOVE. God is LOVE. I must first KNOW and receive LOVE with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, and with ALL my mind, before I can walk in Spirit and Truth. I must claim it. I must take possession of it. I must OWN it, then I can rejoice in giving it away. Praise God for that message.

    • What a wonderful Christmas present, Joyce, to be reminded anew of real love which we find in God who loved us so much that He sent Jesus. I like how you connected “BEING” to the greatest commandments, found in Matthew 22:35-40. I encourage you to also reflect on 1 John 4:16 — “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. …” In addition to knowing about His love, we must receive it and rely on it for it to truly impact our very being.

  3. ive just come to encounter this ministry tools site, very informative and helpful in a biblical perspective. thank you for the articles.

    • You are welcome, Jovimena Jasha Florida. I pray you will continue to visit the site and that God will help you apply what you have read.

  4. Praise God for leading me to this website! Thank you for sharing these articles. Hallelujah for what you do for His glory!

  5. Thanks God for everything by sending an email that helps me to answer the question of being and doing in my theological assignment this year.

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