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August 4, 2009

Ministry in the Moment

by by Sara Bentley

Lately I’ve been struck at how full my life has become. Between family, friends, church, home and job as a hospital chaplain (complete with a pager that seems to go off when it’s least convenient), my calendar doesn’t have much white space. I am, in a word, busy. As a churchgoer, I’ve heard countless sermons on the dangers of being busy. But lately I’m beginning to think that maybe busyness is not the real problem. Instead, I’m moving towards identifying a different issue—a deeper one—that begs addressing. The issue of how I choose to respond to God, and others, in the midst of my busyness. In other words: Do I choose to remain available to love/serve others in those moments that are not planned, not scripted, or fail to fit neatly into my schedule?

As a woman who longs to lead as Jesus led, this question moves me to look at Jesus’ view of busyness. And as I read the Gospels, a shocking reality emerges: it doesn’t appear that Jesus had a problem with busyness. Just consider his life. Jesus was constantly on the move, traveling from town to town, engaging religious leaders, healing the sick, casting out demons, sitting with outcasts, mentoring disciples, teaching multitudes, etc. I am fairly confident that if Jesus had carried a Blackberry, or an iPhone, his calendar would have appeared full to overflowing, not to mention his email inbox. However, unlike most of us, he never allowed his busyness to trump his availability.

Even in the midst of busyness, Jesus stayed ever watchful for unscripted opportunities to love and serve—always ready for ministry in the moment. In fact, multiple times throughout the Gospels we encounter some variation of the phrase, “As he (Jesus) was on his way.” This phrase consistently precedes stories of Jesus stopping to help someone in need. No matter where Jesus was headed—or what he needed to accomplish—he was never too pressed, too hurried, too stressed, too preoccupied to stop and minister in the moment.

But what allowed Jesus to remain available? How did he manage to stay open to interruptions amidst the craziness of his life? One striking idea surfaces as I read accounts of Jesus’ life: Jesus clearly understood his purpose/calling and prioritized accordingly.

For example, the Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus, at only 12 years of age, lingering at the temple to dialogue with the religious leaders. When Jesus’ parents finally find him, and question what he is doing, he responds: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house.” Translation: “Are you surprised that doing my Father’s business is my primary purpose?” Maybe you’re wondering what your calling/purpose is? Well, Jesus gives us place to start when he instructs us to focus our lives around two activities (and two activities only): Loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40).

Understanding his purpose allowed Jesus to prioritize. Understanding our purpose allows us to do the same. Many leaders I know (myself included) struggle with prioritizing. In the spirit of wanting to help everyone, we tend to stretch ourselves too thin; and in doing so we risk rendering ourselves less effective than if we’d set good boundaries at the start. But, Jesus did not try to do it all (even though, as God in flesh, he was certainly capable). Instead, Jesus stayed focused on carrying out his Father’s will to lovingly invite the sinners, the broken and the undeserving back into relationship with God. And with this priority in mind, Jesus was always willing to stop and care for the leper, the outcast, the ‘least of these’ who needed his touch even in the midst of his busy life.

The fact that Jesus found it important to clearly articulate his purpose, and prioritize his time accordingly, challenges me to ask myself if I can do the same. As women called to godly leadership, I believe we must spend time in prayer, study of God’s Word and dialogue with other godly individuals to better understand what it looks like to live out the two-fold purpose of loving God with abandon, and loving others as ourselves. Only as we do this, we will begin to better discern which interruptions are really opportunities and be better prepared to be ministers in the moment.

Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on August 4, 2009 9:44 PM

Comments

I'm just winding up CPE this summer as a chaplain in a retirement community with more than enough needs to be addressed. In this, I have learned to listen to the Spirit. My agenda may be to spend time at a social gathering of residents, but perhaps it's just one resident who needs my time. My whole idea of ministry has been turned upside down. In Sept., it's back to seminary, but this time of chaplaincy has been formative. Bless you in your continued ministry.

Posted By: Ivy | August 5, 2009 4:58 AM

As a woman taking on a brand new Bible study and working on various other personal projects (some faith based, some family based, some music based), I thank you for this post. Prioritizing is important. I have felt overwhelmed before... but I think when I start feeling that way, I will remember this post and pray for His guiding light regarding priorities.

Thank you. Bless you.

Posted By: FireMom | August 5, 2009 8:35 AM

How I needed this little reminder of boundaries and yet remembering the sole purpose of my calling is loving God and loving people. Keeping myself available to those He has given me caretaking over is my highest priority without compromising my personal time with Him, without my palm or blackberry. He always gives me those times, just as He took time and went to the mountain or to that solitary place.

Posted By: Donna Stephens | August 5, 2009 12:46 PM

I've been struggling ever since I retired because of financial needs. Yet, during this time I have been "occupied" with the needs of others - and meeting those needs, i.e. family, friends - you name it. No matter how many times I've tried to return to work, something or someone gets in the way. You'd think by now I'd get the message? Thanks for the reminder - "Lord, I am available; and please meet our needs."

Posted By: Carmella Simmons | August 5, 2009 3:09 PM

I really thank Sara for her wonderful post. It is very relevant to my situation. Setting prioties in the ministry can never be over-emphasized but it has not been easy at all. As a Senior Pastor of a young church and doing so much to make ends meet both at family and church levels,I pray God will help me and others like me as I adjust in line with your message in this post.
God bless you and your ministry.

Posted By: Regina M.Kehinde | August 5, 2009 6:34 PM

As I was reading the wonderful comments by so many "servant sisters" and reflecting on the life of Jesus and His practices in ministry, this is the thought that keeps popping up in my mind; Jesus said, "I do ONLY what I see My Father do." Somehow, I think that holds the key to answer the problem of the whirlwind of servant activities. However, the 'splainin' and spelling out of exactly what that means is mysterious to me.

Would someone(s)who has/have that revelation, address it please?

Posted By: Ramona Cook | August 6, 2009 12:10 PM

I have to agree that we must know our life purpose and calling. Prioritizing is very important or else we find ourselves not doing what is important at the time we are supposed to do it. For instance, home schooling should have priority over Wednesday night Bible study. I love God's word yet if God has told me to teach my children at home, then I cannot go to Bible study if I have not done the teaching for that day. Another thing is to look at the world through the eyes of our spiritual gift. Other people may not understand but the Christian and God understands the emphasis. For me, it is "... Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow that my days should be consumed with shame?" (Jeremiah 20:18) This is a rhema given more than twenty years ago.

Posted By: Lucille Gaither | August 6, 2009 7:53 PM

Ramona,

I think what Jesus was saying is that He was just like God. He told His disciples that when they saw Him they saw God. So everything He did was what God would do.
In the same way we as Christians are called to be just like Jesus.
So when "opportunities" come our way - if we ask "what would Jesus do" - or in fact if He would DO anything at all - we could use the answer as our guidance.

Posted By: Nancy | August 6, 2009 9:42 PM

Knowing your purpose or calling is the basis for all prioritizing. A good Christian resource for this Blueprint for Life (www.blueprintforlife.org). It combines life purpose work, bible study and life coaching all in one.

Also, regarding Jesus and busyness, I love how you pointed out that Jesus knew His purpose (what God wanted Him to do). Also, I think people forget that Jesus led a balanced life, including the "white space" on His calendar to refuel with God. Our purpose/calling also encompasses down time because that is what keeps us going for the long haul. I've had to learn that in my own life and I encourage others to do the same.

Great post.

Posted By: Janna Rust | August 7, 2009 10:10 AM

I eagarly follow the articles and comments when I think that God will use something I see or hear to help me in my transformation and purpose. Thank you for every particle of practical information. I will scurry over to the suggested website as I am always pursuing the knowledge and Wisdon needed to serve in ministry as I have been served.

Posted By: WysWoods | August 7, 2009 10:45 AM

With three small kids, I find I am busy ALL the time. But, when I take time to slow down and enjoy them, I realize I am doing the job that God has called me to do. Sometimes slowing down just to enjoy them is the best thing of all, as it reminds me of how much I love them.

This of course occurs in a similar fashion when we slow down to enjoy our Lord. Of course in both instances we have to let other things go in order to truly slow down.

My kitchen floor may only get mopped once every other week, but my kids know that I love them because of the time I spend reading to them. I hope that the Lord knows how much I love Him as well when I do remember to slow down in those quiet moments of prayer and praise.

Posted By: Dianne Bright | August 7, 2009 2:13 PM

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