(Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

This week a passage encapsulated everything I understand about ministry, especially being trained up in the faith of Christ by my beloved parents who have endured much for the sake of Christ…

Because of the way ministers have been “glamourised” in the media, the new fashion of being entitled a “minister” is portraying a false image that serving Christ is a bed of roses – which is partly true because being a child of God has it’s benefits. However, there is a side to serving as God’s ministers on the frontline which is often undisclosed – which is the heavy burden and trials we face because we are in consistent unyielding warfare.

I remember a young lady who told me in conversation that she would like to be a pastor’s wife…… (I give you permission to imagine my face and how my chest was beating to say something, BUT we have to guard our mouths). All I could think of is, although the thought was noble/innocent, the weight that this burden carries is tremendous. My point is not specifically regarding my concern about her request but rather whether she understood what the assignment entails.

It’s not just about the title, platform and presentation, it’s a constant fight to spread the gospel and to stand firm in our faith. Pastors, evangelists, prophets – whatever role one plays, as a minister unto God, gets their fair share of issues!

Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit puts it in a way I could not construct, he says, “Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The role of a minister is heavy. In the mix of the passage above you can see that Paul mentions both good circumstances and bad, nevertheless in all of this he stays faithful to the cause. Serving in whatever office is extremely fulfilling because we know we await a greater reward than this earth can offer us, but we must not forget the burden it comes with when we say yes to the call.

Kathryn Kuhlman said something that has never left me, she said, “if you have never been called, don’t do it, if you have never had a real call from God, don’t do it. BUT if you have had a real call from God, not matter what the cost is, do it”. How can I add to the simplicity of the message?

This is not a message to discourage those filled with boldness to say yes to the call, as we know the Grace of God is more than enough to sustain us in service. Indeed step into what God has called you to be but don’t be ignorant of the sacrifice of contributing to the perfection of the saints and expansion of the Kingdom of God.