If we are to model our ministry after that of Jesus, perhaps it is important to recall some incidents in the Bible that recall Jesus receiving help as well as giving it.
A very clear example is in Matthew 8:14-15. The story is a simple one. Jesus came to Peter’s house and discovered that his mother-in-law was ill. The first thing he did was to heal her of her fever. We are familiar with that aspect of Jesus ministry but notice what happened next. “She got up and began to serve him.” His ministry to her enabled her to minister to him. It is a brief incident but it raises the question of how often we allow the members of the congregation to whom we offer ministry to also offer ministry to us.
Matthew 26:6-13 offers a more familiar incident. Jesus was enjoying the hospitality of Simon the leper, whom presumably he had healed of his leprosy. The first aspect we should notice is Jesus willingness to receive Simon’s gratitude in his home. But then comes the story of a woman pouring an alabaster jar of costly ointment on his head while he was sitting at table. The disciples got upset that she was wasting this costly ointment but Jesus response is instructive. “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me.”
Sometimes people want to express their gratitude towards a pastor or educator, even at times in a lavish style. I remember a parishioner who, during a stressful time at our church, surprised me with a gift certificate to a health spa. It was not something I would have ever thought of or indulged myself in. It was his way of saying, “I know times are tough. Take a break on me.”
We are also made aware in Matthew 27:55 that there were a number of women who accompanied Jesus in his travels and provided for him. There are those in our congregations who have a ministry of offering us support and encouragement at significant moments in our ministry.
Of course we can get in trouble if we begin to believe that some how, because of our hard work, we deserve such extras. If we can receive them as small acts of grace, however, we can both honor the ministry of others to us and see them as intermitent signs of God’s love affirming our ministry.
Healthy ministry is a two way street.
