Clearly all Christians are called to be involved in some aspect of ministry through their local church. Ministry is not reserved strictly for the vocationally called. As with every aspect of life, there is a right way and a wrong way to do ministry. Often the determining factor between the two is motivation. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 through 6:2, the Apostle Paul describes three proper motivations for ministry: accountability, love and purpose.
Accountability (2 Corinthians 5:9-11)
An underlying aspect of accountability is behavior acceptable to the one observing accountability. A child who joyfully cleans up his room does so, not only to avoid punishment, but to please his parents. In like fashion, Christians perform ministry to please God. Scripture indicates God’s ability to look beyond words and actions to see directly into the heart. Regardless of the perceived motivation behind an act of ministry God always sees the real reason. How happy he must be to see his children ministering because they want to please him.
Beyond the motivation of pleasing God is a secondary aspect of accountability. Paul says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each mat receive what is due him for the things done in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). One day, every act will appear for review before the eyes of God. While nothing escapes the eye of God as an event unfolds in real time, it is the recounting of those events when standing in the celestial presence of God that encourages accountability. No one wants to receive failing grades for omission or commission while standing in the very presence of God.
Many in the modern church seem to downplay the idea of accountability. A 2007 LifeWay Research survey indicated only 37 percent of respondents agreed strongly with the statement, “One of the main reasons I live my life the way I do is to please and honor God.” Ministry without accountability may be ministry performed for wrong reasons.
Love (2 Corinthians 5:11-15)
The word “gospel” has been rightly translated “good news.” Fully understanding this good news lends to a greater sense motivation when performing Christian ministry. The gospel is the story of God’s love. Man was made for God’s enjoyment. Sin broke the fellowship God so desperately desires to have with man. Yet God was not willing to be separated from man and he provided a means of reconciliation. He allowed his own Son to come and die for the sins of all mankind. The good news is simply this: In Christ man has been reconciled to God.
It is the love of Christ that should compel believers to perform acts of ministry. Paul says the love of Christ should, “compel” (2 Corinthians 5:14) believers to perform acts of ministry. Compel is an interesting word choice of words. It carries the connotation of lacking the ability to make any other choice. The Christian who properly understand the love of Christ cannot resist the urge to love others in a similar fashion.
Of all the motivations for ministry perhaps none is as pure as love. Extending love to another because of love received from another is a high calling. It moves the believer beyond himself, or as Paul says, “those who live should no longer live for themselves” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Purpose (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
Responding to God’s invitation to ministry because of the need to exhibit accountability is an emotional response. Being motivated by love is deeply spiritual. The third motivation for ministry, purpose might best be described as a pragmatic response.
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God’s purpose of redemption was to bring man back into right relationship with himself. The death of Christ provided a means of forgiveness. His vicarious death also provides the individual an opportunity to experience becoming, “a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through God’s marvelous model of redemption man has been provided a model worthy of replication. God then, “gave us the ministry of reconciliation,” (2 Corinthians 5:18) and “he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Two words are used to portray the venture of reconciliation God has with the members of his church. Paul first describes the relationship as that of “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is one who cares the message and the goodwill of the king. Every believer who engages in ministry has been given the high privilege of representing the King of Kings.
The second term the apostle uses is “fellow workers” (2 Corinthians 6:1). God invites his children to become a part of the family business. As partners with him, the believer not only shares in the responsibility for the expansion of the kingdom, but also shares in the great dividend when someone is brought into the family as a product of faith.
Conclusion
God longs to see his children become involved in ministry, but he watches carefully to see if participation has the right motivation. While many, even unto this day, engage in ministry for personal gain, the real and sincere follower of Jesus Christ longs to minister to others because they have been motivated by accountability, love or a deep sense of purpose.
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