From Hopscotch to Holiness

26 From Hopscotch To HolinessWISDOM NEEDED FOR MINISTSRYWhat is your definition of ministry? In the context of the church,ministry was never meant to be the sole responsibility of ordained clergy.Scripture indicates that every believer is equipped by God for some typeof ministry. Consider 1 Corinthians 12:21-26. “The eye cannot say to thehand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’tneed you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to beweaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorablewe treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable aretreated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no specialtreatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor tothe parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body,but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one partsuffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every partrejoices with it.” All believers are of great importance in the eyes of theLord. No aspects of ministry should be looked upon as more importantthan others. However, we sometimes stumble when putting this truthinto practice. In the book of Acts we see the apostles dealing with thisissue. They felt called to devote their time to prayer and the ministryof the word. That was their primary calling and ministry. They wereconfident in that leading from the Lord. But they also knew the very realneed to care for widows and oversee the daily distribution of food. Theyneeded others in ministry with them who were called and equipped forthis ministry of service. Clearly, they needed God’s wisdom to solve theirdilemma. Consider Acts 6:2-3. “So the Twelve gathered all the disciplestogether and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry ofthe word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, chooseseven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit andwisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.’” Who did they