Have a God-Centered Ministry: Ban Discontentment

This is part two of this article. Please click here to read part one.

When I read about the Israelites murmuring against Moses, I no longer see angry church members bucking the authority of the pastor. Instead, I think about a pastor who is no longer satisfied merely serving God where God has called him. Forgetful is the minister that cannot recall with delight the calling of God in his life, the overwhelming joy (that drowned out criticism) to know that God was choosing him to serve in His kingdom.

I can remember studying for the ministry and dreaming of leading others to Christ, baptizing them, and pastoring them faithfully. More than anything, I can remember having a willingness to be used in any way God wanted to use me. If He wanted me to wash dishes in a Christian camp for the rest of my life, I would. If He wanted me to serve in a Christian college and help train others for the front lines, I was willing. If He wanted me to spend my life in the foreign fields of Africa, coming home to a thatched-roofed hut, and eating monkey brains for dinner, I was up to the task. Because at that point, ministry was not about me, it was not even about others, it was about God.

When the Lord called us to plant a church in Las Vegas, Heather and I were delighted. Yet, early on in the church plant, I began to fight one the greatest battles I have yet to face in ministry: the battle with discontentment. This is a battle I believe every church planter will face and is a battle that I still fight every single day of my life. Let me explain. When we would have 100 people in our church services on Sunday morning I would wonder why we didn’t have 120 like I was expecting. When we began running 150 people every Sunday, I would go home disappointed that there were not 175 as I had hoped. I began to convince myself that this discouragement was actually a healthy thing. “You should never be content with just a few that are saved; that’s what’s wrong with pastors today,” I used to tell myself. I can remember the day we had 174 people in church and thinking what a thrill it was to hit that number. I was happy for one week. When we had 200 in a service, I would spend the next few months begging God for 225. At 225, I prayed earnestly for 250. We are now averaging over 300 people every Sunday, and I wish I could say that at some magical number I became satisfied and contented with my service.

Recently, I heard the story of John D. Rockefeller’s interview for a national newspaper. The reporter said, “Mr. Rockefeller you are a multi-millionaire several times over, yet you continue to pursue wealth. When will you be satisfied with your riches; how much money is enough?” John Rockefeller simply replied, “One more dollar.” This is the story of a discontented man. If someone were to ask Tiger Woods, “Tiger, you had a beautiful wife at home, why did you end up giving your honor to these other women?” I believe he would say, “I was not happy, I was not content.” The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:6, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I have learned a great lesson from the children of Israel: I must learn contentment. The alternative is to murmur against God!

The LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD. Exodus 16:8

I had convinced myself that my weakness was my strength, that my sin was my sanctified gift. Never grow complacent and content was my motto. But looking back on the many Sunday evenings after church that I was edging ever closer to depression, I have come to realize that I was simply discontent. I do not want to become the minister that reaches 1,000 in attendance and is still looking to greener pastures. I refuse to be the leader of a mega church that has not learned to be satisfied with God but instead pines after a bigger auditorium. I fear that God may answer my pleadings of a larger church with many more in attendance, but that I will miss out on God’s perfect plan for me.

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:13-15

The children of Israel cried out for water, and they got what they asked for. They cried out for food, and the Lord graciously sent them manna. They complained about the manna and begged for meat, and the Lord sent them quail. The Lord gave them their request every time they complained, but the Bible says He sent leanness to their soul. While I was training for the ministry, I heard pastor Jim Schettler say, “It is not what you accomplish in ministry that God is chiefly concerned with, but who you become that really makes a difference.” Too many times, we focus on our accomplishments and not upon our Saviour. Too many times our minds dwell upon our goals and not our God. Much too often our attitude is determined by our own perception of success rather than our walk with God.

It is not truthful for me to say that I have arrived at the end of my journey and now feel completely content with the ministry in which God has placed me. I still struggle daily with contentment. However, going forward I have made a decision that I will be satisfied with God’s provision, at peace with God’s plan, and content with God.