Jealous...maybe that's what I am!!

I have given up ever being asked to speak at any significant event for the rest of my life. The Senior Citizens Thanksgiving gathering is about as good as it is going to get for me. I am not expecting any invites from Mr. Megachurch pastor, the denominational annual convention, some church needing a revival, state youth convention or even children’s camp. Maybe, just maybe, if I play my cards right, I may get to chair a service during state campmeeting but otherwise I will never see my name in lights or on a printed bulletin again.

And why? Is it because after 25 years in ministry I have nothing to say? Is it because I am bald? Is it because I spit while I preach? Is it because I’m in West Virginia?

No…it’s because I am not a mega church pastor or TV evangelist. Everyone knows that only the guy with the big church has important things to say. It is only the phenom who just got 200 people from the church split down the road which doubled their attendance, “yes doubled!” that has wisdom. We all know that only those guys with generational preacher pedigrees in their family can preach it. The message is loud and clear that those who deserve to be heard and put on the stage are those with 1000+ in attendance in church and lift weights. The rest of us should be taking notes when the big boys climb the stage.

So desperate are we who want to part of that number that attendance numbers are fudged, consultants are hired, money is spent, buildings are built so that someone will notice! We all know that there are only a few important names in that hat and we desperately want to be one of those names.

The dirty secret of ministry is that like pro basketball, there are only a few who get to “the top.” You better be playing because you love the game, not the fame. You better be doing ministry because you love people and not because you want an invitation to unfurl your ego – I mean – wisdom - before adoring crowds. Better face up to the fact that your greatest impact will be in the lives of those few who you invest your life in.

For 120 years Noah built an Ark, preached, prayed, and pleaded with people to get saved from the judgment of God that was coming. And the end result? He lived his whole life to save 8 people. 8 people. We would consider him a failure. We would never let him preach the big meetings. He would never be considered for a leadership role. But there he is in the Bible, a hero. Maybe you are living your life for the 8, or 80 people. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t count yourself a failure. Don’t devalue your ministry. You’re never going to get the big invite but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have something to say and it doesn’t mean that you are a failure. Maybe it just means that God, in His infinite and sovereign plan, put you here for 8 people and not for 8,000. Accept His plan. Love His plan.