Why Should I Serve Where I’m Not Wanted?
“Never allow how you’re mistreated to make you lose sight of the importance of the work you’re called to do.”
Have
you ever served in ministry and felt unappreciated, devalued or
outright disrespected, despised and possibly in danger? Dumb question,
huh? It is sad to say, but there are times when people in church can
make it clear when someone isn’t wanted. It may be a new pastor with
big, fancy ideas, or, wait, I’m sorry, ahem—vision. It can happen to a
new musician who has changed the style of music for Sunday worship, or a
newly hired staff member or church leader with a different leadership
style than their predecessor.
In Matthew 20:17-19,
Jesus warned His disciples that He is going to enter Jerusalem and face
harsh treatment resulting in His death and resurrection. Despite how He
was going to be treated, He went anyway.
There are going to be bad days in
ministry where people will make you feel unwelcome. God will send us to
people and places where we are not wanted. When it comes to ministry, we
cannot be driven by how we’re treated. We need to be driven by a
stronger and more compelling why. Why should we serve where we’re not
wanted?
Love
What would drive Jesus to enter Jerusalem
knowing how He would be treated? Love! Love was Jesus’ driver in life.
Likewise, our love for the Lord and His people needs to drive us in what
we do.
This is a love that makes you tough—tough enough to love people and care about them even if they couldn’t care less about you.
This sort of love can make you tender,
too. It can help you forgive those who are hurting you because they
don’t know what they’re doing and strive to be a blessing anyhow.
Importance
Jesus went into Jerusalem knowing it
would result in His death because it was important to Him to go. The
importance of dying for our sins drove Him to push past what He knew
people would do to Him and faithfully go where the Father willed.
He clearly stated He would be killed but rise again, which was very, very important!
“For if there is no resurrection of the
dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been
raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless”
(1 Corinthians 15:13-14).
Never allow how you’re mistreated to make
you lose sight of the importance of the work you’re called to do.
Always remember the importance of souls being saved, the weak being
strengthened, broken marriages being restored and everyone knowing
someone cares about them. We should serve where we’re not wanted because
what we’re doing is important; too important to be unfaithful or just
quit prior to the Lord reassigning us to another work.
Faith
What can keep you going when you’re
serving where you’re not wanted? Faith. This is a faith that gives us a
language. It influences:
What you say to your mountains: Pray declaring, “Be thou removed!”
What you say to your haters: Like Nehemiah, say to your haters, “God is going to help us finish this great work”.
What you say to yourself: There have been
times when I would remind myself that just as I am trusting God to make
this work, He is trusting me to serve with excellence so He can bless
watered seeds with increase. I trust God and remind myself that He is
trusting me. He is trusting you, too!
Eternal rewards
We need to focus on the eternal rewards promised to us.
“Do not be afraid of what you are about
to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test
you, and you will suffer persecution for 10 days. Be faithful, even to
the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation
2:10).
When you’re made to feel unwanted, look
past today and look toward eternity, remembering God is going to make it
worth it! God won’t let you suffer for nothing!
Finally, where would we be if Jesus
didn’t endure the mistreatment? Give the people everything you’ve got.
Somehow and someway it will all work together for good. Be faithful! 
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