In his book on being a servant of God, Pastor Warren Wiersbe addresses his readers by saying, "this book is for ministers, spelled with a 'small m,' as well as for those who are in what we call 'full-time Christian service.' (All of us should be involved in 'full-time Christian living.')"
That being said, and referring to the title, it's no longer a question. The answer is that it is for everybody.
There's a couple of beautiful of definitions that are found within this read helping us understand how to minister, how to help others, and living a life of servanthood.
"Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God." That definition is coupled with the saying "methods are many, principles are few; methods always change, principles never do."
One of the first examples found in scripture that describes principle and method is found in Acts 3:1-9. To jog your memory and refresh you, here's a children's song: "Peter and John went to pray, they met a lame man on the way, he held out his palms and asked for alms and this is what Peter did say: 'Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.' He went walking and leaping and praising God, walking and leaping and praising God. 'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.'"
As a way of review, what can we glean? Peter and John saw a need, the need wasn't physical alone it was spiritual also. They were the loving channels to share the divine resource, which resulted in them glorifying God as well as the man being healed.
We have a tendency in our fast-paced society, in our "hurry-up-let's-get-on-to-the-next-thing" mindset, that at times we find it easier just to pay to fix the problem than to really meet the need.
Something very beautiful happened at that gate named Beautiful, which is so well named. What was the thing that happened you might ask? Well the answer is obvious isn't it? A man needing healing was healed. That's not the only thing that took place, another scripture that has been turned into a song was lived out, "How lovely on the mountains, are the feet of them that bring good news."
What did that once lame man do? He went walking and leaping and praising God! Two men making their way to temple, not having much to their means, even declaring "silver and gold have I none," did the first best only thing: "but such as I have, give I thee." As we consider the resurrection season upon us, may we also consider who we have in us, that God's love may be poured through us. Peter and John had the "such as I have" ability. Do we have same?
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His life and light be seen shining through you - Divine resource, meeting human need, through a loving channel (you, us), to the glory of God.
• Patrick Propster is pastor of Calvary Chapel -Carson City.
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