And yet, and yet…

A few months ago, we hired a new administrator and she started an exciting new phenomenon: she put Lindt Chocolate Truffles in the candy dish at her desk!

With this development, I may or may not [but absolutely did] stop 3 to 4 times a day by her desk getting various options for my chocolate fix. But being the compassionate soul that I am, I did warn her. While it may seem to be the best idea to put out the luxury chocolates first, that is going to be a difficult order to keep up [i.e. an expensive one]. But she shrugged to that comment and told me that she always keeps another bag in the drawer in hiding.

Now several months later upon walking into the office, I noticed that the dish was no longer filled with Lindor Truffles, but instead mostly with spearmint lifesavers…bleh. The rule of Matt’s Pessimism wins again.

In my mind, this story is something that a lot of minsters walk through. When we begin in ministry, we give all of the very best of our time and ministry. It is well-received, well-complemented, and as a result we begin to make plans that it will forever be that way. But as we succeed in our service of the Lord, we find our supply being taxed. Over time if we’re not careful in replenishment, we can start to see those great things that hallmarked our ministries start to fade and eventually just become a veneer over mundane filler [sorry life saver lovers, but they are absolutely filler].

If this is the tendency of the arc of ministry, what does that mean for those who desire to serve the Lord in vocational ministry in the long term? Should we not give our best? Should we hoard it for moments that are more advantageous for us? Or should we just go 100 miles an hour until we absolutely burn out? I’ve seen these methods play out in ministers’ lives, and none end well.

So what are we to do? I believe that we should look at the potential of our ministry creativity and energy as what it is: completely dependent on Jesus. I think about the story of manna from the book of Numbers. If you recall, the Lord would always give people enough for the next day; but if they collected more than that, it would rot. The only outlier on this rule was on the day before Sabbath where they were to collect two days’ worth of manna. This method was the nature of sustaining the life of Israel: they had enough for what they needed.

Friend, when it comes to your ministry don’t hold back. As the Lord lays opportunity in your ministry, pursue it. But pursue it in a way that recognizes that the distance that will be covered is totally dependent on the Lord. Understand your limitations and accept Sabbath when God commands it. Don’t be discouraged if all your plans and dreams aren’t accomplished in the first year of ministry. In fact you should be encouraged: you’re not done yet in the place that God has called you to. And take note of this: if God is faithful to sustain us when we begin in a new ministry, why would He not be faithful in the long run if we’re faithful to seek His desire and will for us?

So go for it: put out those Lindor Truffles. Just make sure that you’ve thought through what comes next.