Is Joy Possible as a Minister?

If only I could have some JOY while serving in the ministry! So many leave their Kingdom assignment because of the increasing pressure of a multitude of responsibilities that have been heaped upon them by the people they serve. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy with unspoken requirements that we put upon ourselves.

Jesus says that the pressures of life can choke out the fruitfulness of God in our lives.

Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV) 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the messageabout the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Opposition can choke out the fruitfulness of God in a believer’s life. A lack of Biblical understanding, trouble, persecution, worries and the deceitfulness of wealth is what Jesus says can choke out the fruitfulness that Jesus desires for our life.

One writer says it like this,

Joy in Greek

“There are eight Greek words for joy in the New Testament, but the most prevalent one is chara [khar-ah’]. It appears about 60 times in the New Testament, and its first occurrence is about the nativity of Jesus in Matthew 2:10, which says, “when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” According to Strong’s Concordance, chara means joy, calm delight, or inner gladness. It is related to chairo [khah’-ee-ro], which means to rejoice and charis [khar’-ece], which means grace. Therefore, chara means to rejoice because of grace. It is the awareness of God’s grace or favors through Jesus, as well as our reaction to it.

Putting it all together Biblical joy comes from the Lord. It is a perpetual gladness of the heart that comes from knowing, experiencing, and trusting Jesus. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Moreover, biblical joy is not based on our possessions or circumstances like worldly joy. Warren Wiersbe defines joy as “that inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances.”

It is my prayer that you be filled with Biblical Joy, that steadfast fulfillment in knowing you are loved by God and that your obedience is pleasing to Him thus bringing you joy.

Hebrews 12:2 & 3 NIV “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”