The Ministry of Christ - Glenn Conjurske
The Ministry of Christ
Introduction to Ministry
Ministry is service. It is work. In these days of pride, selfishness, and self-seeking, we should expect that ministry would not be much sought after. However, we find just the contrary. Ministry is highly prized, and many are willing to scour the earth in search of “a place of ministry.” But there is an explanation. That explanation lies in the fundamentally false notion that many people have about the nature of ministry. This false notion can be corrected by a glance at the ministry of Christ.
The Desire for Greatness
The sons of Zebedee wished to be great, to have a place of importance. The ten were moved with indignation. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:25-28).
The False Notion of Ministry
We fear that much of modern “ministry” consists of nothing more than a desire “to be great.” But a minister is a servant. His aim is to serve others, “not to be ministered unto”—not to receive, but to give—even to “give his life a ransom for many.” This was the ministry of Christ, “who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation” —emptied himself—”and took upon him the form of a servant.” (Phil. 2:6-7).
The Reverse of Christ’s Example
I fear that much of modern “ministry” is directly the reverse of this. Men “enter the ministry” in a fashion directly opposite to Christ’s. They “will be great.” They will be something. They will be somebody. They are looking for something for themselves—looking in fact “to be ministered unto”—and this they call “ministry.” I spoke with one of these souls not long ago and suggested a hard and humble place, such as the inquirer was fit for, and which might be a place of service, but was told in reply, “Oh, that could never give me the fulfillment which I seek in a place of ministry.” Ah, yes. “Fulfillment”—“give me”—“I seek.” And yet all this will be called “a place of ministry.” This is selfish and directly contrary to the spirit of true ministry.
The Glory of Ministry vs. the Work of Ministry
Others are evidently much more intent upon the glory of the ministry than they are on the work of the ministry. Some of them are, frankly, too lazy to be servants, yet they want the glory of the ministry. One of these lazy fellows called me once from another state and wanted me to send him my notes on a certain subject, so he could write a magazine article on it. I refused to send them and told him why. He wanted somebody else to do the work of the ministry while he took the glory of it. The Bible likens a servant of Christ to “the ox that treadeth out the corn” (I Cor. 9:9), but this fellow wanted to be the host who served up the corn after the ox had trodden it out. At a later date, the same man published a list of recommended books which I had compiled. It was my list, just as I had given it to him, he only adding half a dozen titles to it, and yet he published it under his own name, without a word of acknowledgment as to its source. This, of course, gave the impression to his readers that he had read all these books, whereas, in fact, he had never even seen many of them. All this is shameful, yet we suppose men would be secure from such shameful deeds if they had any proper notion of the ministry—if they entered it to work and serve, rather than to reap fulfillment or glory.
Selfishness and Pride in Ministry
But another thing comes to mind, which had not so much as occurred to me when I began to write this article. When I look at the folks I have known who seem to be more intent upon the glory or the fulfillment of “the ministry,” rather than to work and serve, it plainly appears that they are not only selfish, but proud—always thinking more highly of themselves than they ought to think, always supposing their ignorance to be superior knowledge, always ready to teach their teachers. I have sometimes been inclined to advise such souls to advertise in the Christian papers, saying, “First-grader desires teaching position on the college level. Must have good benefits.” This is their idea of ministry.
Christ’s Humility in Ministry
When Christ entered the ministry, he stepped down, not up. He left a high place and took a low one. So did Paul. His ministry was hard work, and hard fare too. How many enter the ministry after this fashion today? “Made himself of no reputation” is a paraphrase, the Greek saying “he emptied himself,” but the paraphrase is very apt. How many enter the ministry today to make themselves of no reputation? This was the way of Christ. He not only emptied himself, but “humbled himself” also. He stepped down from a high place to a low one, and this not to get, but to give—even to give his life. Of course, he found fulfillment in his ministry, but this was not in standing on a platform before a crowd. We think that was rather a trial to him. He sought no glory. He straitly charged those whom he healed to tell no man. He found fulfillment indeed, but it was in speaking alone to a loose and low-class Samaritan woman, in whom he could see an uncut gem. What glory was there in this? What salary? What benefits? Yet it was there that he said, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Here was fulfillment indeed, but found in the lowest place, in the most humble activity. This was the ministry of Christ.
The Ministry’s Purpose: Humility and Service
And for what purpose does Paul introduce his description of Christ’s emptying and humbling of himself? “Let this mind be in you,” he says, “which was also in Christ Jesus.” Let those who seek a place of ministry enter it here—at the bottom, not the top. Let them step down, not up. Let them humble themselves, not exalt themselves. Let them forget about the glory of authorship and the glory of the pulpit, let them forget about their selfish desires for fulfillment, and seek where they might work and serve and give—to benefit others, not themselves. Let them seek a low place, to give, not to receive, to serve, not to be served. This is ministry.
Conclusion: True Ministry
Ministry is not about glory or fulfillment for oneself. True ministry is about service and sacrifice. Christ exemplified this, and it is through humility and serving others that true ministry finds its value. Let us aim to follow His example—stepping down, not up, giving rather than receiving, and humbling ourselves to serve others. This is the essence of Christ’s ministry, and it should be the essence of ours as well.
Glenn Conjurske