Ministry From the Heart

The Lord was angry with Eli the priest because of his sons, Hophni and Phineas. They served in the house of the Lord and did everything they were supposed to do. But the problem was that they separated themselves, who they were, from what they did. I'm sure they made all of the sacrifices in the right way. They wore the garments just so. They made sure that things were ordered the way they were supposed to be. But when it came to their personal lives, they did whatever they wanted to do. They slept with the girls who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They indulged themselves in whatever would bring them enjoyment. They separated who they were from what they did.

As a full-time minister, I don't believe this is possible. Okay...maybe it's possible, but it's not at all wise or beneficial. Ministry is not a formula--a color by numbers thing. If it were, then wouldn't everybody be saved? Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders in John's gospel. He said, "You diligently study the scriptures because in them you think you have life." I'm sure they looked at each other and said, "Well, yeah. Isn't that right?" Jesus goes on to explain that life is found in him. The scriptures point to him. They read and practiced the Law of Moses to the letter. But he said they didn't believe it. That was an offensive thing to say, but true. Because if they believed Moses, they would have believed Jesus.

The point is knowing Jesus. It's believing and living it from our hearts. I can do all the things a pastor is supposed to do--read the books, preach the sermons, visit people, follow up with visitors--because in them I find what it is to be a good pastor. But if my heart is not intimate with Jesus, I miss the point. Like Hophni and Phineas. I would only be going through the motions and pleasing myself.

I'm sure that many in ministry today are a lot like Hophni and Phineas. A lot like the religious leaders who did what they were supposed to do, but missed the point. I know that I have found myself in that situation before. God, let my heart be committed to you first. If I miss the point, then I don't even want to be in ministry. May the words of my mouth and the dedication of my heart be pleasing to you.