Ministry as a Matter of Priority
by John Pierce, Executive Editor,
Baptists Today
Throughout my
earlier career in campus ministry, I often urged students to make
ministry a priority for their lives. My concern was that they would
not focus so much on their own interests and develop a lifestyle of
self-focus and self-service.
“If you think
you are too busy to serve others now,” I said repeatedly, “imagine
what excuses you will have when you are working full-time and have
family responsibilities.”
One day I had
made those remarks for what must have been the umpteenth time that
school year. At the conclusion of a Bible study luncheon, I got an
unexpected response.
“You do
ministry stuff all the time with us, but you get paid for it,” one
of my most involved and outspoken students fired back.
Everyone
laughed, including me. But his smart-aleck remark stayed lodged in
my mind.
Earlier that
day, someone had called with the suggestion that we talk about
forming a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate in our part of metro
Atlanta. Though my students and I had worked on numerous Habitat
projects, I rebuffed her energetic plea for my help in hosting an
organizational meeting.
“My plate is
too full,” I said, seeking to convince myself and the caller that I
did not have the time.
However, the
words of that loud-mouthed student kept ringing in my ears.
Eventually, I called back that afternoon to schedule an initial
meeting that led to a very rewarding ministry experience — one I
almost missed — beyond the work I was paid to do.
That episode
came rushing back to mind recently while spending a few consecutive
Saturdays working on a Habitat house sponsored by two Baptist
congregations in our community. Looking around the work site, it was
clear that recreation and home improvement projects had been set
aside for the many volunteers — as had all the good excuses for not
being involved.
This issue of
Baptists Today begins and ends with those who consistently
choose action over excuses. All around us are good examples of how
we can make serving others a priority in our own lives.
The Carter
Center’s impressive work in nearly eradicating a parasitic disease
that has caused blindness in mass proportion is the result of a
Baptist layman who has kept his focus on serving others. As a former
president and world leader, he could have excused himself as being
too important — or too busy with corporate board meetings — to get
involved with suffering humanity.
However,
people around the world are thankful for his priority choices. Many
live healthier and more peaceful lives because of his concern and
initiatives.
The 30-member
congregation featured on pages 38-39 of this issue is making a
dramatic difference in the community of Hendersonville, Tenn. “We’re
too small to do much,” could have been a convenient excuse for
inaction.
Much larger
congregations have justified their inward focus with: “We really
just have enough people to take care of our own.”
Instead,
children are tutored and fed, missionaries are supported, and poor
neighbors are receiving medical care because excuses did not win
over ministry priorities at Believers Baptist Fellowship.
Too many of
us within the church are asking, “What have you done for me lately?”
Rather we should be asking, “What have I done for others lately.”
I stand by my
constant reminder to students — and myself — that faithful
Christians should make ministry a priority, not something we do with
our spare time. For rarely do we find time that can be considered
spare.
Getting past
our excuses is the hardest part. But saying we are too busy, too
important, too old, or too small are excuses God finds too flimsy —
and so should we.
Getting our
ministry priorities straight often requires a fresh word from God.
Such guidance may come to us in difference ways, but we must all be
careful to listen.
For me, the
call to reprioritize my life is never a loud booming voice or even a
still quiet voice. It is the sound of a smart-aleck college student
who put me in my place.
|
