Balance in Ministry

09.10.10

Balance in Ministry

There's a careful and delicate balance in ministry (or family, or business, or organization, or team, or anything)... too often neglected.  

Too often rationalized.  Too often written off as less important than ______.  

Without this balance, churches fail.  

Without this balance, volunteers leave.  

Without this balance, vision is lost. 

Expectations and assumptions struggle to fill the potential void of this balance area, leading to frustration, confusion, and pain.  

However, WITH this balance comes hope.  Synergy.  Dynamic team building.  Empowerment.  True life transformation.

WITH this balance comes restoration, growth, and vision advancement.  

On the scales of this balance, bread is broken, stories are shared, and hearts are connected.  

Discipleship is a natural byproduct of this balance. 

This balance is the example Jesus gave us and left us with.  In fact, if discipleship is synonymous with this balance, it could be argued as a top priority on Jesus' agenda. (see Matthew 22:36-40)

 

 

And this balance?  is simply this:

 

Love God and Love Others.  

 

 

Matthew 22:36-40 (New Living Translation)

 

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
 ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
 

 

 

 

I didn't say "balance activity and devotion"  or "leadership and stewardship"... though those ARE important things....

 

But LOVE.  

 

We simply MUST LOVE God, first and foremost... and Others as a close second.  

 

Forget the "form and function"

Forget the "strategic planning"

Forget the "character, competency, chemistry"

Forget the "he said she said we said... "

Forget the "show up on time, be ready for rehearsal or you're out"

Forget the "_____you fill in the blank___"

 

If LOVE... true genuine cry along side of you, hurt along side of you, celebrate along side of you, WALK WITH YOU REGARDLESS of action sort of Love... is compromised then we've missed the mark.  

 

I'm so guilty of this.  I can get caught up in the minutia of driving toward goals, accomplishing strategies, and winning... and so quickly lose sight of the commandment to LOVE.  

 

Love is a powerful thing.  It casts out fear. (1 John 4:18), it is foundational to trust, it is the supportive beams to leadership (and sincere surrender), it builds people up (and never tears down)... and it is a true reflection (when unconditional) of our Heavenly Father's love for us.

 

When we make other things more important THAN LOVE (pride, greed, recognition, lust, envy, justification, etc)... we tip the scales and fall out of the full on life God desires for us.  In love.   

 

1.  what does LOVE look like in your organization?  ministry? team? company?

2.  how can you LOVE God more today than yesterday?  could you date Him today?

 

3.  how can you LOVE your people better today than yesterday?  could you laugh with them? cry with them? eat with them? serve them with a genuine heart?