Is it worth it?

For those of us that fall under the label of full-time ministry we always stumble in wanting success to be by our standards. We pour in all this money, labor, effort, and hours into things we think will make front pages in our Christian circles. We want stories of thousands coming to Christ at once, or giant buildings and churches sprouting up overnight. The reality is ministry is hard, difficult, and messy. Even our personal walk in sharing the gospel and making disciples is lined with just as much failure as success. I remember years ago setting up an event for a Christian group to reach out to the local community to build relationship and share the gospel and not one single person from the community showed up. We then ask ourselves, “Is it worth it?” For me that question is always answered with a resounding “Yes!” Jesus said in Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” That event helped me better understand how to reach the community with the gospel, and that group did return and made an impact in people’s lives. Our faith in God’s plan allows us to endure, to continue to labor in the field, and to try again when we fail or stumble. Why? James 5:11 reminds us why, “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” So, continue to give your prayers, time, efforts, finances to the kingdom work because it’s worth it for even that one who comes to repentance!