I think it will be worth the effort if we take time to really look into what constitute true wealth in the ministry. Today, various teachings are flying about that brings confusion and bewilderment to the heart of the simple and uninitiated. The economic situation in Africa and the resultant level of poverty has helped the prosperity message to sell so fast and almost everyone is queuing up to the line. The outcome is that our thinking is being gradually changed to using material parameters as the true measure of wealth in the ministry. Even those who should know are pitifully found in the web of this error. I sincerely hope that every minister will accept this message with an open mind.
A. Wrong Parameters of Wealth: Success and wealth in the ministry today is said to mean:-
1. Money and financial breakthrough:
Today, accumulation of money which is popularly refer to as financial breakthrough is the craze in the ministry even among church members. Majority of the messages coming from the pulpit this day often re-emphasis this notion. Most of the teachings too have been wrongfully patterned to lend credence to this view on money. Prayers have equally been exploited to “force” God to acceed to demands on financial breakthrough. Laying emphasis on nothing but money is nothing but another gospel. Money or financial breakthrough has, and will never be a measurement for true success in the ministry. The eternal focus in ministry is the gospel of His kingdom and not money.
2. Assorted and exortic vehicles:
To have various cars in your custody and have them lined up in your convoy whenever you are going for outing or ministrations, is not proof that you are successful in the ministry. But rather sadly today, the kind of cars you use determines which ministerial group or association you can belong. Infact, in some circle, you are not welcomed if you don't have a jeep. To them, acquiring exortic cars have become a symbol of success in ministry. No wonder the younger generation of ministers are daily desiring these physical and perishable metal resources. Vehicles of whatever brand, sleekness, colour and elegance are not evidence of success in ministry. If the type of vehicles we use today are used as yardstick, then our Lord Jesus and His early disciples were unsuccessful. After all, horse riding and chariot, which were means of transportation during their time, were in existence and yet, they had none of them for personal use and keep.
3. State of the art buildings:
The craze in ministry circle today is to showcase the size, beauty and fittings content of church structures. The edifices themselves have become a contending monument against the gospel of Christ. Gigantic architectural buildings, usually celebrated to the heavenswhen opened or commissioned are now being used to measure the status of a minister and his impact in the ministry. The calling of God on any genuinely called minister of the gospel is to build people and edify the church (see Eph. 4. 11:12). Anything outside this divine purpose is nothing but gradual drifting and loss of focus. Of course, the building is needed to house the people. But it is not the main reason for ministry. May I remind you that when rapture takes place, the people will go but the building will remain here on earth.
4. Open door to foreign countries:
This is another abnormality among ministers. So many of them believe rather wrongly that, once you begin to travel abroad, you have broken through. They reason that the number of contacts you have made during that journey is a fact that you are a success already. Although, after such travels, their pockets and bank account becomes fat, irrespective of what they do oversees - either preaching truly, doing some menial jobs or doing some business runs in shady deals. You don't have to travel abroad to be successful. Running after and forcing some doors open just for you to have breakthrough is never a sign of success in ministry. Research has confirmed that many ministers who travel oversees come back home to their ministries and become nuisance in character, word, ministry, disposition and abandoned formally but eternal principles that serves as guide in the ministry.
5. Wining and dining with cream of the society:
Ministers of today now flock around people that matter in the society - all for recognition, acceptance,, relevance, favour and possibly contracts. It is a common sight now to see front row seats in most of our big churches and ministries occupied by government dignitaries, business tycoons, politicians, royal and traditional functionaries. Sadly, majority of these societal influencers are not genuinely born again, neither can they demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, or evidence of being a true disciple of Christ. Majority of them are agents of corruption in the society and yet, many ministers who patronise them consider their” connection” with them as a success.
6. Latest fashion and clothing:
The trend of fashion in the world is fast catching on ministers. It is now a competition to display the makers of ministers suits, shoes, shirts, perfumes and other fashion accessories. Most ministers meetings, gatherings and conferences or seminars are now avenue for some “big ministers” to let the audience know the prices of their clothes. God has not called us to preach ourselves or what we wear. He has only called us to preach the gospel. Making fashion statements here and there does not amount to success in ministry.
7. Big title, big position:
Rather unfortunately, most African, particularly Nigerian ministers are lovers and slaves of titles and position. If you don't address them by their status, you will be ignored, repelled and even sometime disdained. True wealth and success in ministry is not accumulation of titles and position. It is not how loaded your financial pocket is. Infact, more often than not titles are problems to us because they prevent us from serving thepeople in its real form. So, to be clouded with various titles and comfortable with position are not measurement of a lasting success. You might have the titles and position, yet, no people to follow you as a leader. Going by Bishop, Apostles, Primate, Evangelist, pastors e. t. c. is just an indication of your office, not necessarily your responsibilities.
8. Crowd mentality:
This is a major disease affecting major ministers of today. The quest to always have mammoth crowd in attendance at all their services to preach to, has taken a dangerous dimension. The wrong believe that the more crowd you have, the more you are adjudge a success has led so many ministers astray through diabolical means. Majority of them have become liars and double dealers - all in a bid to outdo one another in ministry and claim to be a success. Success in ministry is not dependent on crowd. Rather, it is solely dependent on how much impact you are able to make on the few people you have as members under your leadership sphere. Your eternal reward will be determined by how many people you lead to heaven, not how many crowd you pastor.
9. Power and authority over others:
Having control over people, paying salaries to a large staff in the ministry and sitting atop network of branches and resources does not mean you are truly wealthy or successful. Simply because everybody is at your beck and call does not in any way signify that you have arrived in the ministry. Success in ministry is more than that. Power and authority are transient. They are of course good if well used. But they could be dangerous and destructive to you if you use them in an ungodly and inhuman way. Power intoxicate and absolute power intoxicate absolute. Whatever power and authority you think you have now is nothing but a test from God.
10. Fame, popularity and high standard of living:
The fact that you are famous and popular today in the ministry is not an indication that your voice will still be heard tomorrow. Infact, you need to be more careful now that you have fame and popularity. Fame has a way of drawing you away from your first love - love for God and His work. Success in ministry is actually reserved for silent builders who are making greater impact, yet, no noise. Majority of those who are considered famous today are just noise makers who have no tangible proof of their works in the ministries. You can make all the noise, paid for media adverts, be in the news always and preach on television regularly - heaven knows those who are truly famous and successful in the ministry.
Moreover, the craze is now to take church money, that is meant for propagating the kingdom of God in missions,reaching those who have not heard the gospel, church planting and supportiing missionaries, to build secular universties. Every church and church leader now wants to own their private universities. The focus is no longer the kingdom of God but secular universities. To be truly considered as success and wealthy in ministry, you must now own your government approved universities. First, it was bible schools, then later nursery, primary and secondary schools, but now it is universities. When shall we stop chasing shadows? Well, it may be coated in fine prases, but the true reason for these is money and business. Though many will argue against my submission, but the reality is that only the gospel has power to bring transformation to the society. Starting these secular institutions are mistakes that has been made in church history, which sadly we are repeating again with reckless abandon.
Since wealth in the ministry is based on these parameters it has made many ministers to loose out of the right way. Many are discouraged because they don't see these things in their lives and ministries. Many have resorted to other sources for power in order to achieve these wrong parameters of success. Many who started so beautifully have become another thing because they are deceived by these wrong factors of success. The end result has been sub-standard bible living, worldliness, covetousness, competition, corruption, commercialization of the church and general loss of integrity and respect in the ministry.
Well, if these outward achievements are the factors for success, then people such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Jesus and Apostle Paul are all failures. They cannot be qualified as having all these physical achievements. Even those who have them gave them up in order to truly succeed in the service of God. Hebrew 11:24-27; I Kings 19:19-20; Matthew 8:20; 21:2-5; John 17:19; Acts 15:26; Acts 20:23-24; Phil. 3:7-10.
B. True Wealth in the Ministry: I Chro. 20:4-8; Mark 8:34-38.
True wealth in the ministry is:
1. Pursuing your God - given vision.
You must discover His purpose and pursue it to a logical conclusion. You must do all things to please Him always. Some have lost their vision, how poor they are! Your true wealth is purposeful living that leaves a lasting legacy. Your true wealth is fulfilling His purpose, not your own purpose.
2. Reproduce other Leaders.
Your wealth is people and leaders you raised up. You cannot said to be wealthy in ministry when you have not reproduced anybody. Life does not consist in what you get but what you give. Raising leaders that has been truly transformed under your ministry that will lead the work to greater impact is true wealth in ministry.
3. Appoint your successor and lay a good foundation for him.
You cannot have true wealth if you don't choose who will succeed you. Your greatest legacy is someone who will do the work better than you. There can be no success without a successor. If the work suffers in your absence, you are not a success irrespective of your attainments, achievements and attainments. Of course, in the course of achieving these eternal riches, God may decide to give you the fringe benefits of cars, houses, open doors, clothing and blessings. But that should not be your primary goal and focus.
C. How to Achieve True Wealth in Ministry:
1. Stick to His vision, no matter what Acts 26:19.
2. Obedience to God - I Samuel 15:22-23
3. Humility of heart - James 4:6-7
4. Faithfulness to God and His word. Hebrew 3:1-2; Prov. 23:10
5. Invest in raising up others
6. Be generous and kind
7. Develop and grow in your leadership.
8. Be a lifter, not limiter of people.
