Five Dangers to Be On Guard For . . . #3

I've been writing about "five dangers" to be on guard for in our children's ministry and so far I've written about the danger of gossip and the danger of child abuse. Today I want you to think about another danger . . . the danger of falling into the "its-all-me-trap".

It is easy . . . far too easy . . . for us to fall into the trap of thinking the children's ministry depends on us. While we need to take ownership of our ministries, we need to keep the proper perspective - it is not "our" ministry; it is God's ministry. The children's ministry does not depend on us; it depends on God!

Remember these verses in Luke 10; "2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (ESV) and in Philippians 2; "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2  complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." (ESV) 

The harvest is God's. When ministry is effective, it is because of God, not because of us. He, not "we", works in us to give us the desire and strength to do His work. It does not all depend on us; it does all depend on God! So, "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Be on guard for the danger of thinking it is all about you. Have the mind and attitude of a servant; like Jesus did!