What does “real success” in ministry look like?
How do we measure it?
And is the success we’re striving for come from the world’s point of view or God’s?
Have you noticed that this topic seems to be flooding your inboxes, streaming services, and social media platforms?
Most bookstores have even created whole sections for the topic of “success”.
Our world has become saturated with “how to be successful”.
But it makes me wonder …
- What does God think about success?
- How does God measure if I’m successful in the ministry or not?
- Am I chasing after God’s opinion or someone else’s?
If you’ve wondered the same thing, here are 2 warning signs we may be chasing after “false success” in ministry:
1. We’ve Started Focusing More On Our Ministry’s Success, And Less On Our Own Relationship With God.
I call this the “Samson Effect”.
Samson was called by God and given the gift of strength to accomplish that call.
He did amazing feats for God, but over time started seeing his success in ministry as a substitute for his own obedience to God.
Samson thought as long as God’s anointing was still on him, he must be ok.
And, as we all know, the story didn’t end well for Samson.
Does this story seem familiar to you?
It does to me.
I have to confess I was just like Samson for many years in ministry.
I didn’t invest a lot of time in my own relationship with God, but since my ministry was doing well, I thought I must be ok.
I mean, why would God allow my ministry to grow if I wasn’t doing things right?
Finally, God confronted me with the realization that I was living in a “false success” lifestyle.
I thought that my ministry success would overflow into my relationship with God.
Wow … was I wrong!
I found myself ministering to people out of an empty spiritual tank that was broken.
Is that you?
Do you see yourself in Samson’s or my shoes?
If your ministry was taken from you right now, would you have your own relationship with God to fall back on?
Are you waking up today with your “hair cut off” without realizing it?
Are you struggling to minister to others from an empty and broken spiritual tank?
Would you have to admit that “your ministry success” has become your foundation instead of Jesus?
If so, this is a warning sign that it’s time to get back to your “first love” of God.
2. Our Ministry Is Growing, But Our Family Is Feeling Left Behind
Being called by God to help others is one of the most rewarding things church leaders experience.
The thrill of seeing God move within people’s lives …
The excitement as more and more people come through the front door …
The feeling that we’re doing something important in our city for God’s kingdom …
All these emotions can be processed as “success” in ministry, but if that success isn’t built on top of our own family’s success at home, we’re chasing the wrong thing.
I’ve heard countless times about church leaders who have accomplished great things in ministry such as building large buildings for the masses, traveling to foreign lands to share the gospel, or raising great sums of money for the hungry.
But these same church leaders have secretly laid their families on the altar as payment for their “false success” in ministry.
They come home late to find their dinner, once again, cold in the microwave …
They miss another one of their kid’s ballgames to visit someone in the hospital …
They find themselves attached to their phones during family vacations …
These church leaders are chasing “false success” in ministry, without knowing the side effects that are occurring at home.
They don’t recognize the warning signs until their families start breaking down.
Their spouse wants a divorce as they confess they have been seeing someone else …
Their kids have become distant and resentful of the church …
Or their family finally gives them the ultimatum between church leadership or them.
But it doesn’t have to be this way!
To reverse this breakdown before it happens, we have to start sharing God’s view when it comes to our family.
God has called us to minister to our family before we minister to the church. (that’s worth repeating)
In God’s eyes, true success starts within our home and then overflows into our ministry.
“False Success” would tell us that we need to pour ourselves into our ministry until numbers, salvations, and spotlights come, but I think God would tell us that “True Success” starts with the people who live under our own roofs.
If you are looking for help in making this change, here is an article that can help.
Call to Action
As church leaders, we need to realize that our ministries cannot be successful if they come before our relationship with God or our family.
Take time aside today to evaluate where you are when it comes to chasing “false success”
Let’s heed the warning signs before it’s too late.
What Do You Think?
What about you?
Do you have another tip not mentioned?
Feel free to share in the comments section below!
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