What Measurements Are You Using For Your Ministry?

What measurements do you use for your personal ministries? How do you judge if you're successful in what you do?

How many people show up? 
The number of unbelievers who get saved?
The comments you receive after you do something?
If you're congratulated, promoted, or awarded for what you've accomplished?
Whether your name is in the bulletin or program or announced for everyone to hear?

If the numbers are high and the "standards" are met, we're on top of the world. God's been good, He's blessing, He's smiling and proud of us, right?

But if there's no one there or we don't get any recognition, then we must be doing something wrong. It seems like we're the ones lacking and less than based on the actions and reactions of those we're supposed to be ministering to.

There have probably been times when we've all done one or some of these measurements, trying to see if we're living up to the "standards" we think have been put in place for our service to God. Our work and play in the world tell us that the more you do, the more you accomplish, the more followers you have, the more likes you receive, the better. But that's definitely not how God's math works.

Have you noticed that Jesus spent vast amounts of time witnessing to and teaching one person at a time? Think about Nicodemus. The Samaritan woman. Zacchaeus. Peter after the resurrection. The woman caught in adultery. The list goes on and on. Jesus often interacted with just one person. Face to face. 

It wasn't about the number of people around Him. It wasn't about their mass reaction to His words and miracles.

Yes, Jesus taught crowds. He preached to hundreds and thousands at a time. He was followed by multitudes everywhere He went. But those weren't the criteria He was basing His ministry on. There was no leader board, no Mission 500 list, no 40-Under-40 crew He was hanging out with. So what was He purpose? What were His measurements for ministry? 

Did the person Jesus was speaking with walk away knowing Him a little better?
Was their heart changed because they spent time with Him?
Were they now ready to serve God in a powerful way for having met Him?

The same applies to our personal ministries, whatever God has given us to do. We are called to serve Him in the place He has us right now, right this minute.

Will the person I'm speaking to today walk away knowing Jesus a little better because of our conversation?
Will their heart be changed toward Him because they spent time with me?
Are they now ready to serve Him because they met me?

So there's really only one question left to ask. Will I keep serving faithfully even when I don't see much immediate fruit?

If I determine in my heart to serve one person with everything I have, that's being true to God's calling on my life. He didn't set any standards, just that I fear Him and obey His commandments. He promised to do the rest.

Today may bring one person across our path or 100. It doesn't matter. That person (or people) is there because God placed them there for us to minister to. My prayer is that we'll be serving Him faithfully when they arrive so He can get the honor and glory. And that's the only measurement that matters.

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