|
|||||
| By Jamie Doyle | |||||
| You're sick as a dog with a fever and your mechanic said that
you shouldn't be driving your car until you can get it in to him. You've
sacrificed your time and money. Your spouse is worried about making the bills
because you just had to have that new book on ministry to children and that
great new puppet you've been wanting… The church won't pay for it because
the board doesn't want to go that direction in children's ministry (which
you interpret to mean that they don't want to spend that much of the church's
money on a silly puppet). You fight and scratch to make it to your class
to give it your best even though you feel your worst. You teach and preach
the word of God to the children that Sunday Morning and then get home and
fall into a heap on the floor… And for a fleeting moment you wish you'd
never taken the job or volunteered for the position but your thought is
interrupted by you saying to yourself, "But I'm doing this for the kids."
And you quietly fall asleep until Monday morning.
Many of us have used that famous line with our Pastors, friends, spouses, family or fellow children's ministers or colleagues: "I'm doing this for the kids." Sometimes we declare it from the mountaintops as if we wanted everyone to know. And sometimes we say it when we're desperate for a reason to hang on a little longer. Whatever the reason it's being declared, I've decided to stop saying it. All right, settle down. I'm not leaving the Ministry or moving on to become a Senior Pastor or something. I've learned that I'm not doing it for the children. I'm not doing it for me, my Pastor, my wife or those who have been my mentors. The Word of God warns about this very subject. In Galatians 1:10 it says: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
"What about the Kids?" Good question. In looking at the word "men" in the original Greek text, we will find that that word "men" to be used as a generic expression of any member of the human race. Children fit that description. Look at the Word of God where it says in Colossians 3:23-24: " Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Why are we doing this for the kids? What can the kids give back? We as children workers rarely receive any praise, acknowledgment or appreciation from adults- there are times that we do but generally not. Why then would we expect any more from the children?
Now don't write me off yet, I'm not done with this article. Please understand that it is a joy to see the fruit of our labor in the children. It's exciting to see the development and improvement that the children have made since we've started working with them. I see all kinds of things all the time that shout out to me that I must be doing something right. But don't look at your task as, simply a chore you're doing for the kids.
I would rather do this for God with all my heart. When I submit to that truth, God will honor me and I will see and experience the rewards from Him.
Let's remember to keep our priorities in order so that we can receive correct recognition from God.
First and foremost: Never sacrifice your relationship with Jesus Christ for anyone. Not even a child. If you serve Christ with your whole heart, He will show you other areas in your life that can survive a time of sacrifice for the children.
Next: You should place a high priority on the relationship you have with your spouse. God placed you together and you made a covenant with that person, a promise. Keep that promise and continue to grow and go new places in your relationship together.
Now should come your immediate family - meaning your children. You could win the entire world of children to Christ: But if you lose your children to the devil, you have just become as ineffective as if you had never answered the call of God.
Now you should be concerned with fulfilling the vision that God has given you for Children's Ministry. After this point it's up to you to set the proper priorities to see that vision fulfilled. This is where proper planning and time management can help you out. Strive to see that vision come to pass. Remember, that's why your doing this; because of a vision that God has given you. This will come more easily then described earlier in this article, if you have your priorities straight.
No, You're probably not going to win the approval of your Senior Pastor any sooner. It's still going to be a struggle at times when the week gets tough. But remember, don't just minister for the kids… Minister unto the Lord and he will make your ministry to the kids the most effective it's ever been.
© Copyright 2000 Jamie Doyle You may print the lesson to use for the glory of God. You may even use it to share with others. Please do not use this for profitable purposes or reprint in other publications unless permission from the author is granted. |