MINISTRY IS MESSY

“An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable”  Prov. 14:4

As I look around my office I notice that it’s a bit messy on first impressions. Sticky notes are placed all over, files are stacked, and yes there is a little dust!  I’ve got papers I need to go through for ministry areas, projects we are working on currently, and people’s information and such to connect with. I’ve tried to keep things clean, but it just turns messy again. To some it may look like I’m “out of control” or “don’t care”, but to me I know where everything is and the timing of it.  I see the mess different than the outsider. Then I realized something: Ministry is meant to be messy.

It’s messy not in a sense of carelessness in activity or callousness to the call, but in the sense of activity for forward progress.  There is always something to do for the glory of God.

You see, Jesus wants His Church to be a light in the community, salt n this earth, busy about his work & witness.  That takes planning, preparing, vision, and action.  That takes a bit of getting messy.  Sure there are costs and risks to take (sometimes we all just want things nice & tidy), but messiness is part of the progress for His kingdom’s sake.

Here’s a few things I’ve learned from the messiness of ministry:

1)    MESSINESS KEEPS ME DEPENDENT UPON GOD.  When He is in control, I’m not.  When I’m a bit over my head, it’s actually a good thing.  It’s where God must step in and work and I must step back and let Him.

2)    MESSINESS KEEPS ME PRAYING.  Knowing there is much to do I find myself praying for these things God is doing.  I’m praying for the people it effects, the plans to go forward rightly, the power of the Spirit to be revealed, and the Person of Jesus to be exalted. 

So as you look at your day, or your ministry, and think, “What a mess!  What am I going to do about it!”  Know that it’s never about you getting done a task to check off your list.  It’s about you thriving in the mess to let God shine through you.

Blessings,
Pastor Jesse