Darryl Burling

Many have a worldly view of "ministry success." They think if they have won many to Christ, planted many churches, pastored a large church, etc., that they have achieved "ministry success." This is false. Ministry success is doing what the Lord calls you to do, to be a faithful steward of your gifts and calling (1 Pet. 4:10). It is the Lord's job to save and sanctify people. Let's say you want to do a certain ministry. You make plans. You pray. You execute your plan and everything works out as you prayed it would! A door is open for you to fulfill your ministry. Praise God! But also, be prepared to praise God if you are opposed, thwarted, hindered, blocked, slandered, persecuted, or run out of town for faithfully fulfilling your calling. Don’t equate "ministry success" with getting what you want, the size of your church, the scope of your ministry, the number of your converts, but with being faithful to be and do what God has gifted and called you to be and do. Faithfulness to the Lord is real ministry success. Just ask Jeremiah, who was constantly rejected, persecuted, and eventually taken captive to Egypt after warning other people not to go to Egypt. There in Egypt he died. He had no converts. Yet Jeremiah had ministry success because he was faithful to do what the Lord called him to do. Mediate on the Scriptures below so that when you have made plans to do ministry, prayed, prepared, and yet are thwarted, hindered, and all is overthrown, you can still praise God. - Ps. 33:17 "A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength." - Ps. 37:23 "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way." - Prov. 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." - Prov. 19:21 "Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand." - Prov. 20:24 "Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?" - Prov. 21:31 "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord." - Jer. 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps." Be faithful to do your ministry and trust and praise the Lord for whatever path He may set you on.