[Biblemat] A) ASK NOT -- WHO CON MINISTER TO YOU

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

ASK NOT -- WHO CAN MINISTER TO YOU

     It is better to ask, "To whom can I minister?"  Each one of
us is called to serve Christ Jesus, "If anyone serves Me, let
him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.
If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (Jno. 12:26).
Christianity, unfortunately, has become a personal-need driv-
en religion.  Many look at the church of Christ, and ask, "what
can the church do for me?"  Following Jesus means minister-
ing to Him.  Ministering to Christ involves being a servant to
others as He was (Mk. 10:43-45).

     The apostle Peter wrote, "As each one has received a gift,
minister it to one another, as good servants of the manifold
grace of God...if anyone ministers, let him do it as with the 
ability God supplies..." (1 Pet. 4:10,11).  First, we need to rec-
ognize the gift that God has given us, and second, strive to
serve with it.  The gifts that God gives are many and varied
among His followers.  Paul wrote, "Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if 
prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or minis-
try, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teach-
ing; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberal-
ity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness" (Rom. 12:6-8).

     When we are faithful in our ministering, God promises to
not forget our labor of love: "For God is not unjust to forget
your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you 
have ministered to the saints, and do
minister" (Heb. 6:10).  We do not do what we do simply to be
rewarded but rather because we love our Savior and our fell-
ow believers.

     Ask not who can minister to me, but rather to whom can I
minister?  We minister then, because Jesus served us, becau-
se we have gifts to minister, and because God will remember
our work and service of love.  Let us be good ministers of the
grace of God!    -------- Ron Drumm.   </HTML>
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