WHAT DOES JESUS CONSIDER AS TRUE MINISTRY?

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise.” (LK 10:30-37)

The parable above has deeply touched me in ways beyond description and I would consider it a crime to keep the truths that I’ve learnt from it to myself. It truly reveals the heart of Jesus on what real ministry is in the sight of God: it is about people. Ministry is not about building a church or running an organization nor is it about all the accolades that accompany the so-called success of externalities of life. We can run, successfully run a mega ministry and yet be so disconnected from what Jesus considers true ministry. Let this parable speak to your heart and in a way remind of your very first passion towards what matters most to Christ.


QUALITY 1: SEE A SOUL FOR THE SOUL’S SAKE

“A CERTAIN MAN WENT DOWN…” LK: 10:30. 

 The bible never reveals the true identity of this man. We are not told if he was rich or poor, educated or uneducated, a great citizen or a criminal, black or white, single or married, a saint or sinner. It simply says a “certain man.” God does not want us labeling anyone but to see the soul for the sake of the soul. The essence of man is his soul and nothing can be given in exchange for man’s soul – LK 9:25. We pastors and believers must be motivated to ministry by the value of a soul and not by anything else other than a soul. See the soul, not the soul’s name or fame or wealth or achievements, or influence, or the lack of any of these external labels. Often, these externalities control the quality of our relationship and ministry to people. Can you see beyond all of that and see a soul only for the sake of a soul? Real ministry, therefore, is ministry motivated by the value of a soul.

QUALITY 2: SEE ALL LOST SOULS AS DEAD MEN WALKING

“THIEVES… STRIPPED…WOUNDED… LEAVING HIM HALF DEAD” – LK 10:30.

All without Christ are stripped, wounded and dead souls, who have no chance of eternity unless they are reconciled to God. If every believer could see correctly, they would see not only the soul’s value but also the soul’s destiny. No-matter the external label; all without Christ will live eternally in hell. Think of all society’s despicable outcasts as well as all of the world’s nobles, all will go to hell without Christ because they are only defined by their soul and not by their accolades or the lack thereof. The true worth of a man is solely based on the value of his soul. In other words, “the true worth of a man is the worth of his soul.” Has the Lord opened your eyes to see their eternal destination? How has that opening of your eyes change your actions towards the lost? How important is reaching a lost soul to you? Is it a small or a big part of your life’s schedule? Is a consuming or a casual thought to you? The Lord told me, “All of life is to be centered on it and be motivated by it.”
Real ministry, therefore, is ministry motivated by the destiny of a soul.

QUALITY 3: ALL ROADS IN LIFE LEADS TO THE SAVING OF A SOUL

“A CERTAIN PRIEST AND LEVITE … CAME, AND SAW AND PASSED BY”– LK: 9:31-32

The Priest and Levite in this parable refer to church folks who are so busy doing church and a lot of other “wonderful” things except that, which truly matters, to God. They can’t seem to see the bigger picture or the plight and condition of humanity. They have eyes but they can’t really see because if the saw, their vision of lost souls will change them for life. Most Christians can see through the eyes of their own souls but not through the eyes of Christ. You can’t see a lost soul through the eyes of Christ and remain indifferent and unengaged and unmoved – not ever again!!!

In the above parable, the Priest and the Levite had something more important to do. Maybe, they were on their way to a preaching engagement or heading home from one and had to get home for a birthday celebration. It could be that they were heading to a conference to receive a prestigious award or heading to a church program. Apparently, the “half-dead stranger” wasn’t important enough to them to suspend all their other activities. Again, it could be because there was no one around to witness their good deeds. I believe that God presented real ministry to both the Priest and the Levite, but they couldn’t recognize it when they saw it. The saw a wounded and naked man, beating half to death and nothing moved their hearts – nothing!!!

Until now, we see a “certain Samaritan” – LK 10:33. Samaritans were considered as non-Jews and therefore, strangers to the Abrahamic Covenant. They were the offspring of racial marriages between the Jews and other idolatrous nations. They would refer to the unlikely Christian by today’s external standards. This Samaritan too had no labeling but was known for displaying the works of true Christianity. He walked his faith not talk it. Here in this parable, we see so many Christ-like qualities in the “Good Samaritan.”

QUALITY 4: THE QUALITY OF COMPASSION

“BUT A CERTAIN SAMARITAN…CAME, SAW AND HAD COMPASSION ON HIM” LK: 10:33. 

His eyes moved his heart, because he saw as God sees the lost, wounded and broken. Compassion always constitutes an action. It doesn’t end with feeling sorry or pity. Compassion doesn’t just feel bad about something but acts to change it for good. Real ministry, therefore, must involve compassion.

QUALITY 5: THE QUALITY OF CONNECTING

“HE HAD COMPASSION ON HIM, AND WENT TO HIM” – LK 10:34

The Samaritan came to the wounded soul and identified with him. He saw a soul, a precious soul and that was all that mattered to him. He stooped down to reveal his care and his touch. He brought himself in close proximity and made contact with the soul before him. We will make no little impact, if we Christians made real contact with people. Jesus became like us to fully identify with us so that He could be a merciful high priest and be touched by the feeling of our infirmities.

QUALITY 6: THE QUALITY OF CARE

“AND BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS” – LK 10:34

Often, we are so quick to shove the bible down someone’s throat and in so many ways become so impersonal with people. To be compassionate means to care without any strings attached. “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because we were dear unto us” – 1 The. 2:8. True ministry is caring for people. It is meeting people where there at and ministering God’s love in a tangible and measurable way. It is putting the care and interest of others before yours. It is the desire to want to make a life-transforming difference in peoples lives. Real ministry must include a heartfelt care for each individual soul.

QUALITY 7: THE QUALITY OF THE SPIRIT

“POURING IN OIL AND WINE” – LK 10: 34

It cost to touch lives. This is why we must pay the price for His presence. Only the life-giving Spirit of God can produce transformation in a person’s heart. Oil and wine are clear symbols of the Holy Spirit and real ministry is ministry in the power of the Spirit. Always function under a strong influence of God’s presence.

QUALITY 8: THE QUALITY OF SACRIFICE

“AND SET HIM ON HIS OWN BEAST” – LK 10:34

Imagine trying to lift someone on a horse all by yourself. We were never told how many pounds this wounded soul weighed and how much effort and time was exerted in lifting him up on to a horse.

QUALITY 9: THE QUALITY OF INCONVENIENCE

“ AND BROUGHT HIM TO AN INN” – LK 10:34

Again, we see that we cannot make much impact in the kingdom without being inconvenienced. No one lives within a comfort zone and makes an impact for the kingdom of Christ. This Samaritan was willing to walk on foot while the wounded soul rode on his horse. We were not told if it was raining or blazing hot or how many miles he had to walk to get the wounded soul to a hospital. He could have walked ten or twenty hours, we really can’t tell, but it reveals that no sacrifice is too high in the saving of a soul.

QUALITY 10: THE QUALITY OF TIME

“AND BROUGHT HIM TO AN INN, AND TOOK CARE OF HIM. AND ON THE MORROW…” – LK 10:34-35.

It takes time to make an indelible mark in somebody’s life. Patience must be exercised in ministering to the lost and nurturing them in the things of God. We all must make out quality time for the business of souls. Simply put, the saving of lives must cost you your time. The Samaritan did not just attend to him and left. He spent the entire night caring and watching over him. We were told he was coming back from a journey and maybe his wife and kids have been anticipating his return. It is possible that he had a timeline to meet or a very important meeting to attend to. But the Samaritan understood that no other business could be more important than ministering to a lost and wounded soul. He recognized real ministry. He knew that this was what his true purpose in life meant. Touching and transforming people were real ministry to him. Often, I have seen an attitude among Pastors where they lose a real and genuine touch with the people. The people seem to be there just to serve the pastor’s ego and to fulfill his God-given vision. He may not fully realize that he is beginning to see the people as tools to achieving an end rather than seeing himself as the one called to serve the people and if need be, lay down his very life for them. Sit with the people and spend time with them and be accessible to them and show them that you care. Jesus walked among the people and met them where they were. It reminds me of why Princess Diana was so loved by many that the world mourned for her when she died. Unlike the Queen and her entire household who hid behind the palace walls and had no contact with the common masses. I truly love this attitude in Pastor Sunday Adelaja of the God embassy Ukraine. You need to see how his love for his people is displayed – it will literally shock some so-called mega pastors of today’s church. He listens and longs to hear their deepest desires and allows them to publicly express themselves. He actually listens to them more than he talks to them.

QUALITY 11: THE QUALITY OF COST

“HE TOOK OUT TWO PENCE AND GAVE… AND WHATSOEVER THOU SPENDEST MORE…I WILL REPAY THEE.”

Yes, changing lives will cost you money – your money. Essentially, this is the primary reason God entrusts money to people. It takes finance to transform lives, cities and nations.

In conclusion, we see that reaching a soul will cost us our lives, our time, our resources. All efforts in life are an effort in souls. All jobs in life are a job of souls. We need to see people as God’s greatest treasure and priced possession. Have eyes for people and let your heart be moved for humanity. Reaching and touching people for Christ is what Jesus considers as true ministry.