When our babies are born, we make sure all our friends and family celebrate with us. When spiritual babies are born, Jesus has Heaven celebrate. He said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
But as we find out soon enough, the work of guiding these infants to maturity, whether physical or spiritual babies, takes years and boatloads of sacrifice on the part of parents. Ask anyone with an infant. Their baby requires them to maintain a 24/7 schedule. Bleary-eyed and exhausted, they are so grateful when their little one starts sleeping through the night.
Still, parents can’t rest from their task for 18-20 years. Transforming little sinners into responsible, God-honoring adults is best described as a time-consuming, energy-draining, and mind-boggling undertaking. But it’s also one of the most joyous and rewarding endeavors we can tackle. One fella told me that when his kids left home, he was happy because he and his wife had equipped them to establish their own lives. But at the same time, he was sad because they no longer seemed to need him.
The Apostle Paul reveals that ministry is much like parenting. Addressing a beloved church, Paul recounted his ministry to them. He was “gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.” He dealt with them “as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7,12)
Like parenting, ministry also has ups and downs, joys and sorrows, celebrations and laments. Sometimes, after years of service to an individual or family, they simply walk away. Worse, they say unkind things about you. Maybe you’ve given time and money to show your love to another family. Now, however, they only call you when they need something.
Perhaps you’ve prepared diligently to teach kids in VBS or Sunday School, but their parents no longer bring them. Your ministry has taken you into homes or hospitals to visit and pray for them, but now you don’t see them anymore. Some of you have poured yourself into youth ministry. As a result, the kids are excited about youth group, but once they reach adulthood, they no longer darken the church’s doors.
I don’t mean to sound like ministry is a downer. Like parenting, there are also times of joy and pleasure. Laughing with your kids or crying with them when they suffer heartbreak, nothing beats giving yourself to them. In the same way, when we minister “as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23), we won’t stop ministering to people, even if some don’t seem to appreciate our efforts. Let’s continue to love people and spur them on to walk with the Lord.
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