Our Approach To Ministry
Paul’s motivation was to build up the Colossians’ confidence in Christ and to encourage and equip them, he wanted the church to know what Christian ministry looks like; he didn’t want to leave the church thinking that serving Christ was anything less than giving their whole selves to Jesus, and that comes at a cost.
What does it mean to be a minister?
Paul was not talking about a title but about the function of his ministry. Paul was a common minister/servant. When we look at 2 Corinthians 4:7, he saw himself as a jar of clay, breakable, disposable, but useful in the hands of God, referring even to himself as a slave. (Romans 1:1)
Ministry is what we as Christians are all called to. We are ministers/servants of Christ, we are lowly, humbled, submissive, we are doing a common service. When we understand ministry in this way it cuts across any glory-seeking for self, any promotion of ourselves, any right I feel I have for certain positions, any thinking that suggests ministry is not for me. We are not our own, yielded to him for him, for his service.
Christ Is Proclaimed In Our Ministry
“Christ in you the hope of glory” is open to the public, anyone, irrespective of race, class, gender, intellect, past, or age. Anyone. As far as Paul was concerned Christians were not to be picky about who could respond to God’s grace and were not to exclude anyone who repented and confessed Jesus as Lord: Christ accepts all who will bow the knee to him. Who then should we proclaim Jesus to, and accept?
Spirit of Joy in Ministry
When we’re faithful to Spirit-filled, Biblical ministry, there will be suffering. Paul says it is a result of committed ministry. In fact, it would be taking Paul’s approach out of context to separate rejoicing from suffering, because he rejoices in the suffering…he said what?
How was Paul able to do this? Because the cause of the gospel was worth it, he KNEW suffering comes with the territory of being a Christian, that the suffering was temporal and until his physical death or Jesus returned, his grace, literally, was sufficient for him. I think of Paul looking in the mirror and seeing a body full of scars from all the treatment/beatings he received, and I imagine him with a huge smile on his face as he recounts his stories and the testimonies of all those whose lives were changed by Jesus. (see Philippians 1:20-21)
Who doesn’t want the Jesus who makes life easy, where we’re never sick, never persecuted, have a trouble-free marriage, have plenty of money and who always gives us the perfect car park? But that’s not the Jesus of the Bible. God wants you to die to self to live for him and that that might bring you joy. We cannot comprehend suffering and trial in human terms but only on God’s terms.