We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry... .
--2 Corinthians 6:3
What happens when ministry gets in the way of people? Do people detour around the ministry then? Possibly.
One way the ministry gets in the way of people is when it becomes more about the minister than the ministry -- and Who instituted the ministry.
I was reliably told of a congregation in southern California that took out a catastrophic liability insurance policy on their minister. It was purchased to protect them from the loss of members and money if the minister sought to move on. In the Apostle Paul's way of thinking, that would constitute an obstacle.
The highest good of the ministry is when it points away from itself to Jesus Christ. And then it points back to Christ's people in love. Yes, in Second Corinthians Paul does talk about what it's like to be in ministry. There are ups and downs and ironies all around, but it's always Jesus Christ who is at work in that ministry.
When that's the mindset of the minister and the ministered to, then there are no obstacles. There can only be rejoicing that we have such a Lord who has given us such a ministry.
PD
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