CWOC the Blog

Several years ago, a friend gave me a set of TAPES (yes, there used to be tapes for any of you who didn’t know that – LOL). The tapes were from Bishop TD Jakes’ annual Pastor’s Conference. In one of the messages, Bishop Jakes said something simple, yet profound: “If you can do anything else than ministry with your life, do it. Don’t get into the ministry for money. Go open up a fish market or something.”

Over the past weeks, my heart had been saddened by things I have seen and heard of people looking for “JOBS” and money-making opportunities in ministry.

I am not trying to be calloused or hard-hearted toward people who “feel” called to ministry and are in transition in their lives – looking for jobs or ways to make money. However, at the same time, I must say this: Ministry is NOT a JOB and it is not to be a source of INCOME.

I know many may think, “Well, then why do you draw a salary from Crossroads?” Why? Because the scriptures states, “The worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7, NIV). I serve – yes, serve as in a ‘SERVANT’ at Crossroads as the Senior Pastor. I refer to myself often as the “LEAD SERVANT.” The defining point is that I do not do what I do for money! I do what I do out of a passion for my God and His Kingdom.

Recently, I’ve seen everything from people looking for “ministry opportunities” because they are “between jobs” and they need money to a goofy ad stating, “Send us a seed gift of $150.00 and we will send you a CD with personal prophecies just for you.”

If you feel called to ministry, don’t look for money-making opportunities or gimmicks. Find somewhere to SERVE and trust Jehovah-jireh, the Lord your provider, to reveal Himself in you, through you, and to you.

If you are not ministering out of love, passion, and compassion – stay away from ministry. Please! There’s enough people hurt by charlatans already. Go flip some burgers, dig some ditches, put out some resumes for office jobs. Do something else. DO NOT DO MINISTRY FOR MONEY!

Serve God and His people. If money comes to you through that – let it be a fringe benefit! God will meet your needs – according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

I do what I do, not because of money. I do what I do because there is nothing else in life that could fulfill me like this. For THIS REASON I was set apart from my mother’s womb.

Just keeping it REAL!