We’re all called into Ministry

We live in an age where ministry is often seen as something only an elect, devout group of Christians are qualified for. What adds to this misconception is that we only ever hear the term as an occupational reference. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

All Christians are called into ministry.

What do I mean? Well, to minister comes from the Greek word ‘diakonia’ which means to serve.

True ministry isn’t just an occupation for some, but a heart posture for all. The minute one makes Jesus the Lord of their life, they are drafted into a life of ministry (John 12:26).

‘He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit..’ - 2 Cor 3:6

Biblically, there are several offices within the church. A noun that corresponds to diakonia is diakonos, which eventually became a technical term, used in 1 Timothy 3 to denote the office of a Deacon.  The role of the Deacon is to tend to the physical needs of the church as seen in Acts 6:1-7. Although some people are genuinely called into this specific office, all believers are called to be ‘ministers of his new covenant’ regardless of titles.

‘Diakonia’ is used 31 times in the New Testament, the majority of which, is in reference to individuals who were serving God’s church or a prescription of how the body of Christ ought to behave.

‘As each one has received a gift, use it to serve (diakonia) one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace’ (1 Peter 4:10).

The same way prophets, evangelists and teachers are ministers in their respective fields is the same way a person who takes care of his family is a minister in his own right. Ministry can look like delivering a sermon to 500 people, but it can also look like carrying your mum’s shopping.

In his first letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul describes “there are varieties of service, but the same Lord” (1 Cor 12:5). These different types of service go beyond the spiritual, but also include the emotional, physical, financial, material etc as described by Jesus in Matt 25:34-40.  

To think service is only meant for some is to miss the fact that we serve a God who humbled himself as a suffering servant on the cross.

For Christ, ministry wasn’t a job title, it was a life poured out.

Jesus is our greatest example.

He never stopped serving, not even as he was hanging on the cross.

For context, Jesus’s father-in-law, Joseph, had died before Jesus started his public ministry. As the oldest man in his household, Jesus was left responsible for the care of his mother in a society where widows were some of the most vulnerable people.

On the cross, Jesus spoke seven sentences. While the pain in his body waged war against every word, he endured, looked unto his mother and his disciple and said ‘women, behold your son.. behold your mother’. In doing so he fulfilled his last family duty as the head man of his household by handing her over to the care of John (John 19:26-27).

Even during the most excruciating moments of his life, he still made sure to settle his earthly responsibilities.

That’s what it means to be a minister.

To love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31).

To seek the best interest of those around you (1 Cor 10:24).

In our pursuit of Christlikeness, let us strive to adopt this heart posture in our everyday lives.

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." – Gal 5:13