Success: How are we to determine it in ministry?

Over fifty years ago I was saying that success for life in general was finding God’s will and doing it. My beliefs about that haven’t changed. The answer to this question related to one’s ministry is partly found in how the word “ministry” is defined.  The word seems to mean different things to different people.  Fundamentally it speaks of serving.  In this case the focus needs to be on serving up The Truth, those things that have everlasting value.

In this 4Us2Us ministry the focus is on determining the things that are TO us vs. those things that are only FOR us to know.  There’s a big difference between the two. As I state so often on this website, all the Bible is FOR us, but it is certainly not all TO us.  The apostle Paul clearly tells us we’re to be diligent in our work to know the difference.

2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵ Study [SPOUDAZO = Be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]

These words you just read are some of the last written words of Scripture from the man we know as OUR apostle, Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles.

Romans 11:13

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [MEGALUNO = Make large or give emphasis to] mine office: [Emphasis added]

Just as he “magnified” his office as OUR apostle, so we are to do the same with his teachings.  It is his message of grace and things pertaining to this present Dispensation of the Grace of God that needs to be the centerpiece for our beliefs in our time.

Ephesians 3:1-8

¹ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

² If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Please note that initially this message was first given to Paul and him alone, not Peter or anyone else.  ALL the others, including the Twelve Apostles, had to learn the teaching of it from him.  The record of him teaching it to them is given in Acts 15, what is often called the Jerusalem council.

³ How that by revelation he made known unto me [Paul] the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

⁵ Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

⁷ Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

⁸ Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [Emphasis added]

Because we are accused of making too much of the apostle Paul, I wrote an article about it.  Again, this man, not Peter or any of the others, was appointed of God to be our apostle with His instructions that are specifically addressed to us today.  I hope you’ll read and study my articles about it.  Here are the links to two of them—

Paul:  Who exactly is this man to us?

Paul:  What’s so special about his teaching?

It is our job to pass this message on to the next generation.  The apostle Paul and others sacrificed their lives to see this accomplished in their time.  Their suffering was ongoing.  Paul commented on it in his last letter—

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [Emphasis added]

This continued throughout the time of his ministry, even to the end of his life.  The controversy and division over his teaching/his message continues to this day.  Denominationalism is the evidence of that.  Here we have Paul’s last words about it—

2 Timothy 4:6-7

⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: [Emphasis added]

A faithful believer today may not experience anything like that.  But there’s no reason to assume that suffering will not be a part of our lives as we go about serving as Christ’s ambassadors, His personal representatives.  Anyone who identifies with Paul and his teaching is subject to much opposition, the least of which is ostracism.  We are told that persecution of some kind is certain to befall every faithful believer.  Most of this tends to come from “religious” people.  There’s no reason to think you’ll be an exception.

2 Timothy 3:12-13

¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

¹³ But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [Emphasis added]

We take comfort in knowing that we’ll be wonderfully rewarded in eternity for our stand.  There’s an article about it on this website— 

Rewards:  For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?

This is all about your work to represent Jesus Christ in His absence from this Earth.

Ambassadorship:  How well are you representing Him? 

Yes! We are told that every generation will have people who will work to inflict suffering on God’s people, especially those who understand and seek to apply the principle of right division.

Conclusion—

Our success isn’t determined by the level of our suffering but by our faithfulness to represent our Savior well.  We see the key to success in our apostle Paul’s last words—

2 Timothy 4:6-8

⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH:

⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. [Emphasis added]

For more information, please see these videos—

#8 ~ Securing God’s Eternal Rewards

#215-EP15 ~ The promises of Everlasting Rewards for Faithfulness