Prioritizing Follower Growth over Personal Gain in Ministry
Christian ministry, as understood in various traditions, emphasizes the growth and spiritual maturity of followers over the personal gain or aggrandizement of the minister. The apostle Paul, for instance, highlights that while boasting may be necessary, it is not profitable, and he instead points to visions and revelations from the Lord [1]. Ministers are seen as instruments in God's work, with their ultimate goal being the edification of the Christian community [5].
The aim of ministry is to help the entire Christian community deepen its understanding and experience of the Christian faith, leading to a profound knowledge of God's Son. This process fosters maturity in believers, with Christ himself serving as the standard of this maturity [5]. The transforming work of the Spirit is to make individuals fully like Christ [5].
Ministers are called to be diligent in their work, not seeking to introduce novel concepts but rather reminding believers of the truths they have already received and heard [3]. This includes giving themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word, which are considered the principal employments of a Gospel minister [4]. These activities are not occasional but should be a constant focus [4].
While ministers are "one" in their essential aim and ministry, each is individually responsible for their own work and will receive a reward according to their labor, which is distinct from personal salvation [2]. However, this individual reward does not justify seeking personal glory or allowing followers to overvalue them. Believers are cautioned against glorifying in men, forgetting that ministers are human, or giving them deference due only to God [6]. Ministers should not be placed at the head of parties or followed implicitly, especially when it contradicts God's truth [6].
Ministers are also exhorted to take heed to themselves, not only as individuals but specifically as ministers, ensuring their life and conversation are exemplary [8]. They must also attend to their doctrine, ensuring it aligns with Scripture and the teachings of Christ [8]. This requires careful meditation on spiritual matters and a complete dedication to these things, being wholly absorbed in them [9]. The focus remains on guiding souls to Christ and teaching them to observe His rules and ordinances, rather than their own dictates [7].
Sources
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 12:1 (LEB) — It is necessary to boast; it is not profitable, but I will proceed to visions and revelations of the Lord.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:8: one--essentially in their aim they are one, engaged in one and the same ministry; therefore they ought not to be made by you the occasion of forming separate parties. and every man--rather "but every man." Though in their service or ministry, they are essentially "one," yet every minister is separately responsible in "his own" work, and "shall receive his own (emphatically repeated) reward, according to his own labor." The reward is something over and above personal salvation (Co1 3:14-15; Jo2 1:8). He shall be rewarded according to, not his su”
- 1 Timothy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 4:6: The apostle would have Timothy to instil into the minds of Christians such sentiments as might prevent their being seduced by the judaizing teachers. Observe, Those are good ministers of Jesus Christ who are diligent in their work; not that study to advance new notions, but that put the brethren in remembrance of those things which they have received and heard. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you knew them, Pe2 1:12. And elsewhere, I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, Pe2 3:1. And, says the a”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 6:4: But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,.... Both in private for themselves, and the church; and in the houses and families of the saints, with the sick and distressed;. and in public, in the temple, or in whatsoever place they met for public worship: and to the ministry of the word; the preaching of the Gospel, to which prayer is absolutely prerequisite, and with which it is always to be joined. These two, prayer and preaching, are the principal employment of a Gospel minister, and are what he ought to be concerned in, not only now and then, but what he shoul”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 3:21: Here the apostle founds an exhortation against over-valuing their teachers on what he had just said, and on the consideration that they had an equal interest in all their ministers: Therefore let no man glory in men (Co1 3:21) - forget that their ministers are men, or pay that deference to them that is due only to God, set them at the head of parties, have them in immoderate esteem and admiration, and servilely and implicitly follow their directions and submit to their dictates, and especially in contradiction to God and the truths taught by his Holy Spirit”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 23:10: Neither be ye called masters,.... Or guides and leaders; not but that, the ministers of the word are in a sense such; it is their business to lead and direct souls to Christ, to guide their feet in the way of peace, and to go before them, as examples to them, in word, in conversation, faith, and purity; but then they are to guide them according to the word of God, and not their own dictates; and teach them to observe the rules, and obey the ordinances of Christ, and not what are of their own inventing and prescribing; and to enforce the authority of their great Lord”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:15: Take heed unto thyself,.... Not as a man, or a Christian only, but as a minister; and as every minister should take heed to his life and conversation, that it be exemplary, as in Ti1 4:12 to his gifts, that they be not lost, or neglected, but used and improved; to the errors and heresies abroad, that he be not infected with them; and to his flock, which is the other part of himself, that he feed it with knowledge and understanding: and to thy doctrine: preached by him, that it be according to the Scriptures, be the doctrine of Christ, and his apostles, and accordin”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:15: Meditate--Greek, "Meditate CAREFULLY upon" (Psa 1:2; Psa 119:15; compare "Isaac," Gen 24:63). these things-- (Ti1 4:12-14). As food would not nourish without digestion, which assimilates the food to the substance of the body, so spiritual food, in order to benefit us, needs to be appropriated by prayerful meditation. give thyself wholly to--literally, "BE in these things"; let them engross thee wholly; be wholly absorbed in them. Entire self-dedication, as in other pursuits, so especially in religion, is the secret of proficiency. There are chan”