DOING A GREAT WORK

"I am doing a great work" - Nehemiah 6:3

In America today, mega-church pastors are celebrated for their numerical success.  This often results in best-selling books about their church's story of phenomenal growth.  While I believe that there are many great mega-church churches & pastors, there are a few mega-church pastors who seem to show a level of disrespect for those who lead small churches or ministries. 

These days, American Christians honor those who lead large churches and Christian organizations.  We must be careful, however, to recognize that success in ministry is not fully gauged by visible results. 

Faithfulness to God and numerical growth are not necessarily synonymous.  Cults can experience numerical growth, but their statistics do not compensate for their doctrinal error.  If you think that large numbers indicate spiritual success, go to a professional football game.  You'll see large numbers of people there without any spiritual activity going on. 

I do agree that numbers matter in ministry.  Each person has an eternal soul and is vitally important.  I heard one mega-church pastor say that churches should celebrate their large numerical success because, "God believes in numbers so much that He wrote a book called Numbers."  His cliché sounds factual, but needs to be clarified.  This pastor needs to be reminded that David sinned greatly against God when he numbered the people.  In the book of Numbers, God commissioned the numbering of the people.  In David's day, his numbering of the people was based upon pride ... not a calling of God.  Could it be that "numbers" have become an idol in American Christianity? 

When Nehemiah was leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, his critics called for him to come to a meeting so they could discuss their differences with him.  Nehemiah knew that their real plan was to pull him away from the work God gave him to do & ultimately stop the work of God.  He responded to their request by saying, "I cannot come, for I am doing a great work."   

We need to understand what constitutes "a great work."  What I'm about to share is not typically stated on Christian talk shows or church-growth seminars, but I firmly believe it is true.  When you are doing God's work, according to God's plan, for God's glory, you are doing a great work.

If numerical growth constitutes a great work, then Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekial were huge failures in ministry.  In fact, John the Baptist saw his numbers decline as his ministry continued.  Yet they all did a great work.  Why was their work great?  Their work was great because they did God's work, according to God's plan, for God's glory.

  

At one point in Jesus' teaching, the crowds left him.  When He went to the cross, Jesus died alone.  Obviously, Jesus did a great work.  Why was His work great?  Jesus' work was great because He did the Father's work, according to the Father's plan, for the Father's glory. 

Let me encourage many today.  If you teach a small Sunday School class, keep teaching for God's glory.  You are doing a great work.  If you are the pastor of a tiny church, keep leading that church for the glory of God.  You are doing a great work.  If you are a little-known evangelist, keep preaching the Gospel for Jesus' sake.  You are doing a great work.  If you are a Gospel singer, keep singing for the Lord --- even if your music never reaches Christian radio.  You are doing a great work.  If you are a street preacher, keep spreading the Gospel for the glory of God.  You are doing a great work.  If you are a prayer warrior, stay in the prayer closet & continue standing in the gap for others.  You are doing a great work.

Your faithfulness and motive will always be the key to your success in ministry.  Whether you see phenomenal numerical growth or not, your work is a great work if you are doing God's work. 

I believe that there are many mega-church pastors who are doing a great work.  I also believe that there are many, many pastors who lead small congregations who are are doing a great work, too. 

Don't look down on those who lead ministries smaller than yours.  Don't envy those who lead ministries larger than yours.  Don't judge those who lead ministries that are different from yours.  Keep your motives pure and stay faithful to the Lord. 

You are doing a great work.