We have an unfortunate tendency to equate success with
approval and validation from God. This is even (especially?) true when it comes
to ministry. As if faithfulness to God can be quantified in numbers - churches
with growing attendance, evangelistic series with more baptisms, colporteurs
with a lot of book sales. Let’s be honest: we like immediate results.
I noticed something interesting regarding this in Acts 7.
Stephen had just been accused of speaking against the sanctuary, the law, and
Moses. In a rather brilliant speech, he turns the tables on the Sanhedrin and,
using their own history, points out that they are actually the ones speaking
against the sanctuary, the law, and Moses.
Nonetheless, things didn’t go so well for Stephen. The Jews
were so enraged that they murdered him on the spot. Not only that, but
Stephen’s speech prompts such bloodthirsty fury in the Jews that simply killing
him isn’t enough – now they want to kill all
the Christians! “On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church
in Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1). Now those are some immediate results, for sure, but
not quite the kind I was talking about.
Let’s back up a few chapters. Acts 2 contains another famous
speech in the early history of the church. This one, given by Peter, is not too
dissimilar from the one Stephen gave, and yet it had drastically different
results: over 3,000 people were baptized!
So Peter’s preaching results in thousands who are converted
and baptized.
And Stephen’s preaching results in not only his death, but
severe persecution for the entire church.
Huh.
Is anyone ready to suggest that Stephen was less faithful
than Peter? That his lack of immediate numerical results is somehow a sign of
failure on his part? I think not. Both were faithful. Both served God in the
moment to which he had called them.
It would do us well to remember that God is more patient
than we are. And that he has the big picture in mind, while we often only
focus on what is right in front of our faces.
Let us also remember that faithfulness to God is not
measured in numbers. God has called us each to different places, different
roles, different purposes. Set your heart to the task God has set before you,
and leave the results in his hands.
0 comments:
Post a Comment