Called to Ministry? Be sure you count the cost.

Dear young minister… count the cost of ministry. (Luke 14:31-33)

Before you jump into the ministry, you should know the cost and you have to be willing to pay that cost. Ministry can look flashy and fun when all you see are the lights, the stage, and the social media posts. But ministry is tough. Ministry is costly. 

My goal here isn’t to discourage anyone from doing ministry. If you’re called by God, then by all means do it. I absolutely love ministry! Couldn’t do anything else and wouldn’t want to. Ministry is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. 

But let me be real for a moment… ministry is also brutal. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The expectations of people, plus the ones you put on yourself, the endless needs and constant demands, the spiritual battles, the hurtful people, the misunderstandings, the financial sacrifices, the spiritual maturity to constantly do the right thing, the demands it puts on your family-- the list could go on. Ministry is not for the faint of heart! If you want to be in ministry because it looks like a good career path, pause. Ministry requires a calling. If you’re not called by God, don’t do it.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16 says, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” 

Paul had to preach. He was under compulsion, compelled, bound to his calling. Jesus told him to preach and no matter the cost to him personally, he had to obey that call. 

#1 There is a cost to your reputation

Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all the people speak well of you; for their fathers used to treat the false prophets the same way. 

I believe, prophetically, that the cost of being a faithful follower of Jesus is going to get higher and higher as the culture goes further and further from Biblical values. This is especially true for those in ministry. We live in a world that calls evil good and good evil. To stand on the sure foundation of scripture and call men and women to repent of their sins has never been a popular message and it will only get worse. This shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus called people to repent and He was hated for it. So much so they violently killed Him and crucified Him. Don’t be shocked when following Jesus causes people to hate you too. Just know, if they hate you, they also hated Him.

Here’s my advice to you… Get really good at speaking the truth in love. Grace without truth is meaningless and truth without grace is mean. Learn the art of grace and truth.

#2 There is a cost to your pride

If you’re in ministry, you have to take the high road, way more than you “should”. It’s the cost of being like Jesus. You won’t always get to share your side. You won’t always get to defend yourself. Many times, you’ll just turn the other cheek because that’s what Jesus asks you to do. He asks you to serve those who don’t deserve it. 

Here’s my advice to you… Pause and remember that we don’t deserve His grace either. We are all undeserving. But Jesus came for us. He loved us. He served us. If you’re going to be in ministry, He’s going to ask you to do the same. His call is to lay down your life and be the servant of all.  

#3 There is an emotional cost

Ministry is going to take an emotional toll on you. One minute you’ll think you’re God’s gift to all and your head will fill with pride. Not long after that, someone will say or do something hurtful and you’ll wonder how God could pick someone as messed up as you. There are so many ups and downs to ministry. You can’t let people’s praise get in your heart and you have to fight to keep their critiques out of your head.

Here’s my advice to you… You have to get to the place in your relationship with God where your identity and validation truly come from God alone. It’s hard. It’s a process. But if your Heavenly Father is pleased with you, that’s all that really matters.

#4 There is a relational cost

In order to really help people, you’re going to have to let them get close to you. When people get close, you open yourself up to being hurt. That’s the reality of relationships. Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek and then betrayed Him. Oh, the pain that must have caused! But the same is true for us. The people you serve, love, give to, and try to help are the same people who will sometimes gossip about you, betray you, try to destroy your ministry, and lie about you. Don’t be shocked when those you’re trying to help end up being the ones who turn and hurt you the most.  

Here’s my advice to you… As much as you pour out, you better have some people pouring into you. Get a couple of mentors, pastors, etc, and value those relationships. Good people who will pour into your life are rare. Seek them out. Pray for them. And when you find them, truly value them.

I recently talked to one of my mentors, Pastor Daniel Taylor, and we were talking about ministry. I was sharing some of my recent struggles and he was telling me some of his. Over the years, he has paid the price of ministry in all the areas I listed above and I asked him this rhetorical question, “Is ministry really worth it then?” His response still rings in my ears. He looked at me and said, “That’s a bad question. Whether or not ministry is worth it, I don’t know. But Jesus is. There is no cost too high for Him.” 

His response hit me to my core. In light of Jesus dying for my sins, in my place, paving the way for me to have a right relationship with God, there is nothing that Jesus might ask of me that is too high a price. There is nothing too costly. He will never get a “no” from me. It’s my prayer, that if you’re called to ministry, you count and understand the cost. But say yes, my friend! The cost may be high, but obedience to Jesus is always worth it!