Editor's Note: This article is part two of a series we started two weeks ago on Jesus' model of ministry. We planned to print part two in last week's issue of the Toolbox, but with the passing of Jerry Falwell, Pastor Rick wanted to share some of his thoughts with our readers on his good friend.
A few weeks ago I told you that we have many great models for ministry to follow – but no other model compares to Jesus. I don’t just want my character to become like Christ (as I wrote about in The Purpose Driven Life), but I want to minister like him as well. I also shared with you five specific ministry principles from the life of Jesus that you can apply to your own ministry. (Check out part one of this series.) Here are five more principles:
6. Meditation: I’ve got to meet with God everyday.
I’ve got to get alone with God for inspiration and renewal. If you are in ministry, which is usually people-intensive, you need to have some time to be alone as well. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. No matter how busy Jesus got, he took the time to get alone with God and pray.
Jesus, when he got alone with God, waited for instructions. In John 8:26b Jesus said, “What I have heard from him – these things I tell the world.” (HCSB) You’re not ready to tell the world anything until you’ve first heard from God. The problem is most of us are so busy telling, we don’t have time to hear. We’re in a hurry doing ministry. It’s like being a hamster on a wheel; you’re rolling around and around but you’re making no progress.
7. Relaxation: I need to enjoy my time off.
Mark 6:32 says, “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest.’" (NLT)
Jesus told his disciples that they need to rest – and so do we. Rest and relaxation is so important God put it in the Ten Commandments. If you’re not taking a day off every week, you’re breaking one of the Ten Commandments.
I’m more and more convinced of the importance of balance in ministry. All of our lives have to be balanced. There is an ebb and flow in ministry, a time when you give out and a time when you receive, a time when you work and a time when you rest.
8. Education: I must never stop learning.
Luke 2:52 (Phillips) says, “As Jesus continued to grow in body and mind, he also grew in the love of God and of those who knew him.” This is saying that Jesus was balanced and He grew four ways:, physically, relationally, spiritually – and mentally.
Even Jesus grew mentally. We should never stop learning and never stop growing as ministers. Pick up a book, go to a conference, or have a conversation with someone new – but commit yourself to learning more. (See my recent column on reading.)
9. Expectation: I need to expect God to use me.
If God is going to use me, I need to expect him to. John 11:41-42 is a great example of Jesus doing this. It’s in the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Remember the story? Jesus was just a few miles away in another town. One of his best friends, Lazarus, was sick. Mary and Martha were Lazarus’ sisters. They sent a message to Jesus: “Jesus! Please come quickly. Your friend Lazarus is sick.”
