FAITHFUL TO THE CALL

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,” (I Timothy‬ ‭1:12‬‬)

In Gospel ministry, it is easy for the pastor to be focused on fruitfulness. He looks for results—with a twofold temptation. He may be discouraged when the numbers of people professing faith and attending worship are in decline. He is tempted to give up. If, on the other hand, it is a season of growth—more bottoms in the pews and more bucks in the plate, he may be tempted to puff up.

It isn’t that fruitfulness is unimportant. Jesus said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). The key to such fruitfulness is abiding in Christ—a vital and vibrant connection to His life within us (John 15:1-7). Yet, our ability to discern how fruitful we are is not always easily measured here and must await the judgment of Christ hereafter. A congregation may increase numerically through carnal means—a mile wide and an inch deep—or, the soil may be rocky, shallow, and weed-infested in the main (Matt.13:3-7) with small numbers growing spiritually (v.8) in ways hard to detect—such as in love (John 15:9, 17), obedience (v.10), joy (v.11), devotion to Christ (v.12-15), answered prayer (v.16). The church may not attract a lot of people, but be scorned by the world (v.17-25). The rejection of the world may indicate their connection to Christ!

So, yes, seek to be fruitful in ministry, but focus on being faithful. Our fruitfulness, as God evaluates it, will rest in our faithfulness. A farmer may be faithful in a season of drought and see little fruit. There are some things beyond his control. What is always within his control is faithfulness to the task. Thus, God is looking for faithful men. Paul rejoices in our text that God had “counted me faithful.”

Although we must surrender ourselves in sacrificial service to the Lord, nonetheless this is an indicator of God’s grace at work in us and through us, so that even in this we must give Him glory and not claim it for ourselves. Paul speaks of how God employed him—“putting me into the ministry”—and enabled him—“Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me.”  As the Apostle was grateful for the grace of a call to Gospel ministry, so must we, who have such an assignment, be filled with awe that God would choose us!

So, as a pastor facing another Lord’s Day tomorrow, let us prepare our souls spiritually in seeking the Spirit of God and prepare our sermons dutifully in studying God’s Word. Then, let us be faithful to preach the truth in love, without fear or favor, trusting in God to make us fruitful.