Joyful Perseverance (eBook)

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What Do We Mean by Freshness?

This book is about maintaining freshness in ministry over the long haul. Freshness is a difficult concept to define; it can mean different things according to the context one is describing. So I will begin by explaining what I mean by freshness in this book, first by listing what it is not and then by explaining what it is.

What Freshness Does Not Mean

First, when we talk of freshness in ministry, we do not mean maintaining good physical health while we minister. Many great servants of God struggled with poor health. One of the most influential seventeenth-century Christian leaders and authors, Richard Baxter (1615–1691), struggled with ill health most of his life. He did not have good experiences with the medical personnel who attended to him.1 He seemed to live with the sense that he was going through “the valley of the shadow of death.” He is credited with the statement, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.”2 Baxter wrote the classic book on ministry The Reformed Pastor, of which Amazon lists nine different editions in print today. He continued to preach until he died at the age of seventy-six.

Second, we do not mean having a motivated, enthusiastic approach to the tasks we perform. Many great actors, politicians, scientists, and businessmen showed exemplary enthusiasm to the end of their lives, but they did not follow Christ.

Third, when we speak of freshness, we do not mean having a bubbly personality that always exudes joy. The great leaders Martin Luther (1483–1546) and Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892) often struggled with bouts of depression, but they ministered with power to the end of their lives.

Fourth, we do not mean a life of climbing the ecclesiastical ladder. There is a wrong idea that one’s position in an organization or church is a measure of his or her fruitfulness in service. We have books proclaiming that everyone can be a leader if they just follow the right formula. But Christian fruitfulness is not defined by position in the church. This kind of false teaching has left many unnecessarily feeling that they are unsuccessful in their service for God or that they have been deprived of positions they deserve. The Bible and church history show that those who are not leaders by that definition can be great and exemplary servants of God. If one were to define a leader as “someone who has followers,” then all Christians can be leaders.3 All Christians can influence people to follow God’s paths. But not all great Christians will rise to high positions on the ecclesiastical ladder.

Brother Lawrence (1614–1691) served in a monastery kitchen for thirty years. At first, he resented having to do such work, but a vital experience with God made him realize that everything he did, even washing dishes, was done for God. He lived to a ripe old age and left some letters and spiritual notes which were compiled after his death under the title The Practice of the Presence of God. That little book became one of the most influential spiritual classics in the history of the church. Many people talk about the value of servant leadership these days. But few are willing to embrace a lifestyle of real servanthood, because that does not fit in with their understanding of what it means to be successful.

What Freshness Means

Let’s now look at what we mean by freshness in ministry. My basic affirmation is that it is a life that continues to minister in the Spirit. Let me unpack that. First, we are talking about a life where the grace of God is evident through God’s constant presence, equipping, and leading. Paul saw all his ministry as coming from the mercy of God (2 Cor. 4:1). This means that what is most important is not our service—what we do for God—but grace—what God does for us. As we shall see, excellence in ministry is important to us because we do it for the honor of a glorious God. But our primary aim in life is the pursuit of God. More than anything else, we want to guard our relationship with him with a sense of urgency, and deal with anything that hinders that relationship. Even when things seem to be going wrong and God seems to be far away, our primary desire is God. As the psalmist said in a dark time of his life,

As a deer pants for flowing streams,

so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God. (Ps. 42:1–2)

The primary source of freshness in our lives is not our vocational fulfillment through using our gifts, though that is important. It is not our adventures in ministry as we try new and creative things, though those are also important. It is our love relationship with God. It is the thrill of being on speaking terms with the King of kings and of receiving his blessing.

Second, people experiencing freshness surely have had many painful, sorrowful, and disappointing experiences in life. But while they may live with sorrow over them, negative feelings and bitterness about those experiences do not constantly influence their moods and their interactions with people. They have been comforted by God. Before recounting a painful experience, Paul said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3–4). He had overcome bitterness through God’s comfort.

Third, people maintaining freshness have hearts that are receptive to letting God’s love flow into and out of their lives. Paul said, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5). The word poured has the idea of “flooding” (PHILLIPS). The experience of love also combats feelings of bitterness. The flood of God’s love challenges the dominance of bitterness and sweeps it away. That love “compels” them to let love flow out of their lives in service (2 Cor. 5:14 NIV). Ministry is an overflow of experiencing God’s love. My friend Susan Pearlman, a leader in Jews for Jesus, once said, “Burnout takes place when the wick and not the oil is burning.” If we tap into the oil of God’s inexhaustible supply of love, that love will keep energizing our service. And our lives will be kept bright with the joy of experiencing love.

Fourth, freshness in ministry is characterized by thankfulness for the privilege of being God’s servant. After describing the painful experience to which we alluded above, Paul said, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:14). “Always” and “everywhere” we find cause for thanksgiving, even after painful experiences. Paul looked at life and ministry not through the lens of problems but with a heart full of thanksgiving for being God’s servant.

Fifth, people experiencing freshness are passionate about ministry to the end. Again we turn to Paul. He said, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11 NIV). When in his late eighties, John Wesley wrote in his diary, “My eyes are now waxed dim; my natural force is abated. However, while I can, I would fain do a little for God before I drop into the dust.”4 The passion for ministry was still there!

Years ago I heard a story of an elderly Christian who was close to death. A doctor examined him and, when leaving the room, whispered something to his attendant. The patient asked the attendant what the doctor had said. The attendant answered that he had told him that he had only a few moments to live. The old saint promptly said, “Then quick, get me on my knees and let me spend the few moments I have praying for the salvation of the world.” Even when facing death, he had not lost his freshness.

Further Reflection

What unavoidable aspects of your personality or circumstances seem to threaten your freshness? How will you maintain freshness while living with these features?