My husband is the high school youth pastor at our church and often people ask me questions about our lifestyle. They say, “Do you feel like you live in a fishbowl?” “You must long for a time when you can just have a normal life…” “Ministry life must be exhausting, when do you get a break?” “I could never do full-time ministry.”

It’s not hard to see that there is an overall misunderstanding about the meaning of the word and the heart behind it. When people hear the word “ministry” some think–minister, pastor or lay person in a church setting. Some people think of being in charge of a program or formal teaching or counseling roles. Some people ask, “When were you called to the ministry?” But really God has called each of His children to a life of ministry. Full-time, lifestyle ministry. That scares some people. They don’t like the idea that they might have to be “on” 24/7. They would rather only do ministry the first Sunday of every month. Ministry is so much more than we think it is–and it if you are a Christian, consider yourself called!

min·is·try
noun

a person or thing through which something is accomplished

What a definition! Think about this in spiritual terms. What if you were that person and the “something” being accomplished was God’s plan. That is awesome! We are holding to a mish-mosh definition of ministry, but if we broke it down it is really this simple. As I considered this definition in light of 1 Peter 4:10 I saw all the common excuses for lack of ministry eliminated.

If you are a Christian, you have a gift. God expects you to make good use of it by edifying other Christians. I like how Paul uses the word “steward” because this is a good reminder that whatever abilities and gifts we have do not belong to us. God has entrusted them to us for the benefit of His church and to be used for His glory.

A book that has really sparked a passion for my own personal ministry is Paul Tripp’s Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands. One excellent quote says this–

Scripture declares that personal transformation takes place as our hearts are changed by God’s grace and our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit. We don’t change anyone; it is the work of the Redeemer. We are simply His instruments.

The problem is that most of us think that God is carrying around a very small toolbox! A successful carpenter uses many tools, each one designed for a particular job. God has a huge toolbox, and his principal tools are his children. Sadly, many people in the church do not see themselves this way. They think of ministry as something for the paid professional. When they think of their own involvement, they don’t think very far beyond saying a prayer or making a meal. Yet their adoption into God’s family was also a call to ministry…

The overall biblical model is this: God transforms people’s lives as people bring his Word to others.

Instruments In the Redeemer’s Hands, 18-19

This quote just makes me so excited! As you and I are faithful to bring God’s Word to others faithfully ministering our gifts to others–that is how God will change someone else’s life–what an awesome reality!
All too often people succumb to excuses–

“I’m too busy to commit to a certain program at my church.”
“I don’t know how to cook so I can’t take meals to someone.”
“I don’t have time for my own prayer time let alone praying for people in my church.”
“I’m too young.”
“I have young children, I can’t do anything on top of taking care of them.”
“I don’t know how to disciple someone.”

Even though some of these sound legitimate, none of them excuse us from regularly exercising our gifts to edify the people around us. We are tools that God will use to accomplish something in someone else. Are we being faithful to bring His Word to others? We all have different gifts so ministering them will look different in each of our lives. But spiritually encouraging the people in our lives should be a daily practice that we take seriously because we consider ourselves called to ministry.