MINISTRY REFLECTION
A Pause in the work of ministry that correlates with relationship. In the Philippines relationships take primary place in meetings, strategy, worship…it’s all about relationships. (there are of course a few exceptions) Even if you are outside the family the treatment is still very relational. And any offence seems to come because of a break in honoring relationships.
The mission of God restores relationships so that “I will be your God and you will be my people.” We now can have a relationship with God, opening up the door to take time and listen to his Spirit, read his Word and fellowship in his presence. Without the relationship, we don’t spend time with him. Without a relationship, we don’t pause with him. Sometimes it’s not about having him do something or us doing something. Sometimes we just are together and that is also His Mission.
This pausing to be with him may also guide us in our earthly relationships. Mission is fun, sacrificial, driving, all important work…and sometimes a hobby. Our lives should be given to God’s work, while it is still day, enjoying the food Jesus spoke of in Jn 4. But relationships are also a part of that mission and should be paused for. Maybe I knew that already but here I see it in action. Snacks taken, siestas enjoyed and conversations that linger without specific objectives.
I almost always have objectives. An ongoing list of what I want to accomplish in a conversation or relationship. It’s usually methodical, strategic and efficient. Few pauses are taken; instead I’m driving to increase efficiency, in my mind, “for the Kingdom”. The faster the Kingdom work, resulting in more Kingdom work, the better. Don’t get me wrong, I do this for God and for the sake of other people. And in my mind doing the task for the sake of others is relational. This is not always perceived and is not the only or best way to establish or maintain relationships. The ministry needs some pauses.
This Pausing both in contemplative worship and in relationships deepens the Mission of God in us and through us. Making relationships tasks or objectives shallows the work and dissolves the mission into a singular facet. Jesus set an objective by turning towards Jerusalem, but along the way he met with, ate with, preached, and shared his final days with people. He could have been more efficient and rode straight to his death but rather his methodology in accomplishing his mission was relational.
In a way what I’m learning is adding a relational inefficiency to the ministry around me. It doesn’t always have to be about “ministry” to be the mission of God. Pausing for a snack, being grateful for someone’s presence, asking about “irrelevant” questions like “how’s your family?”, taking breaks and having fun together all add to the work of the ministry. It adds depth and in the end imitates Jesus to a fuller degree. Just some thoughts. What do you think?
The mission of God restores relationships so that “I will be your God and you will be my people.” We now can have a relationship with God, opening up the door to take time and listen to his Spirit, read his Word and fellowship in his presence. Without the relationship, we don’t spend time with him. Without a relationship, we don’t pause with him. Sometimes it’s not about having him do something or us doing something. Sometimes we just are together and that is also His Mission.
This pausing to be with him may also guide us in our earthly relationships. Mission is fun, sacrificial, driving, all important work…and sometimes a hobby. Our lives should be given to God’s work, while it is still day, enjoying the food Jesus spoke of in Jn 4. But relationships are also a part of that mission and should be paused for. Maybe I knew that already but here I see it in action. Snacks taken, siestas enjoyed and conversations that linger without specific objectives.
I almost always have objectives. An ongoing list of what I want to accomplish in a conversation or relationship. It’s usually methodical, strategic and efficient. Few pauses are taken; instead I’m driving to increase efficiency, in my mind, “for the Kingdom”. The faster the Kingdom work, resulting in more Kingdom work, the better. Don’t get me wrong, I do this for God and for the sake of other people. And in my mind doing the task for the sake of others is relational. This is not always perceived and is not the only or best way to establish or maintain relationships. The ministry needs some pauses.
This Pausing both in contemplative worship and in relationships deepens the Mission of God in us and through us. Making relationships tasks or objectives shallows the work and dissolves the mission into a singular facet. Jesus set an objective by turning towards Jerusalem, but along the way he met with, ate with, preached, and shared his final days with people. He could have been more efficient and rode straight to his death but rather his methodology in accomplishing his mission was relational.
In a way what I’m learning is adding a relational inefficiency to the ministry around me. It doesn’t always have to be about “ministry” to be the mission of God. Pausing for a snack, being grateful for someone’s presence, asking about “irrelevant” questions like “how’s your family?”, taking breaks and having fun together all add to the work of the ministry. It adds depth and in the end imitates Jesus to a fuller degree. Just some thoughts. What do you think?
posted by brian sanders at 12:30 AM
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