Over the years, many have tried to compliment me or encourage me without realizing what they were saying. One of the most common was when I was an associate pastor, they would say "God sees your faithfulness here and is going to reward you with a big ministry some day." I understand people mean well when they say that, but I want to address the mindset of that kind of thinking. First it devalues the current ministry anyone is doing to say that it is just a stepping stone to something better. We need to value where the Lord currently has us and not always be gazing ahead for greener pastures. Second and more importantly, it assumes something that is totally contrary to the Word of God. It assumes that ministry is your reward.
Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and he ended up being placed as governor of the region of Judah. Obviously, God had rewarded him for his years of faithfulness and given him a position of authority by which he could reap the fruits of his labor. Right? Wrong!
"Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God." Nehemiah 5:14-15
For TWELVE YEARS Nehemiah chose not to partake of the governor’s provisions as others had. Others used their position to lord it over the people. Nehemiah saw his position not as his reward, but his responsibility. He chose not to get focused on what he could get from the people, but on fulfilling their mutual purpose because He feared God.
When the disciples were jockeying for position in Christ’s Kingdom, He told them: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus was our example of how we are to lead. He had ALL authority given to Him, yet He came as a servant and gave His life for us. Nehemiah recognized his promotion was not his reward, but his obligation. Position should only serve to help you serve people. It is a tool in your hand, not a medal around your neck. God does not promote us in ministry to bless us, but so that we can be a blessing. In these days when people are judged by their "success" it is easy to get distracted and seek after the rewards of ministry. Don’t aspire to grow a ministry. Aspire to serve people, to lay your life down for them so that they may in turn lay their lives down for another. Jesus said the best leaders are servant leaders.
"What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more." I Corinthians 9:18-19
