1. Get In To Stay
The ministry is not a hundred-yard dash. It is a marathon. In reality, it is a relay race. Paul did not say I have finished the race. He said I have finished my course. I ran well. I am now handing the baton to the next runner.2. Get Rid of the Messiah Complex
You are only one member of the Body of Christ. You are not the whole body. In this passage, Paul is encouraging a young preacher to stay in the battle. He did not consider himself indispensable to the cause of Christ. God managed without you for a long time and when you are gone He will still be in business. Often when conversing with older preachers one would get the idea that it is all over when we are gone. Thank God, He is raising up a host of great young men.You do not have to do everything. Find your purpose and do it. Do it well. Do it to the best of your ability. Do it passionately. But don’t think you have to do everything. Every opportunity is not a responsibility.
3. Have a Sense of Humor
Don’t take yourself too seriously. We should learn to laugh.A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.—Proverbs 15:13It takes twice as many muscles to frown than it does to smile—I am lazy.
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.—Proverbs 15:15
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.—Proverbs 17:22
I think Jesus had a sense of humor: “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24). He was saying, “You get very upset about a very small thing, but you allow great errors without doing anything to correct them”
In Matthew 7:4 He said, “Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?” In other words, “You are quick to criticize others for small infractions, but you have great character flaws that are very obvious to others”
4. Admit Your Mistakes
The simple fact is, you are going to make mistakes; don’t try to cover them up. The only person who does not make mistakes is the person who does nothing. By the way, that is a mistake. People know that you are not infallible. Therefore they will not be shocked when you admit a mistake. When you blow it, admit it.5. Remember That Rest, Relaxation and Recreation Are Not a Sin
Each of us needs something that will free our mind from the stresses of the ministry.6. Learn to Rejoice at the Success of Others
The thing that made John rejoice was the success of others: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).A good way to cultivate this practice is to pray for others. On your daily prayer list put some people who vehemently disagree with you. They have a right to be wrong. You should pray for them.
7. Don’t Assume That Others Owe You Something
Jesus gave an example of our propensity to believe we are owed something in Matthew 20:10, “But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.” If we assume that others will praise us, reward us, or honor us we are going to be disappointed. Thank God we all receive more than we deserve.8. Be Thankful
Be thankful in your heart, but express your thankfulness to others. We should keep the words, thank you on our tongue and use them often.9. Learn to Be Content
In Philippians 4:11 Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Most of us would have to say, “I am learning.”Be content where you are, with whom you are, with what you have.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.—Hebrews 13:5
10. Stay in Love
When questioned about his game plan for a certain game, Vince Lombardi often said, “We will dance with the one who brought us.” In other words we are going to be appreciative of and stay with the ones who have helped us get here.- With the Lord
- With your spouse
- With your family
- With the people God has given you
- With the ministry
We have the glorious opportunity to work together with God, “For we are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3: 9).
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