Dean's Message: Ministry Matters

Dean’s Message: Spring 2018
Ministry Matters: Pursuing Excellence in Service
By: Jiří Moskala

A deep understanding of biblical teaching or a thorough knowledge of theology is not sufficient because all wisdom must flow into service and flourish in everyday life. The practice of Adventism and ministry to the needy is what matters at the end. The Apostle Paul aptly proclaims that if “I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor 13:1–3 ESV). The key role in service is love, because our God is love (Deut 7:8; 1 John 4:16). Unselfish service to the poor is a mirror of our love to our Lord (James 2:14–17).

All our actions, the quality and quantity of our ministry, are measured by our motives, by the presence or absence of love. Ellen White unwaveringly declares: “The Searcher of hearts inspects motives, and often the deeds which are highly applauded by men are recorded by him as springing from selfish motives and base hypocrisy. Every act of our lives, whether excellent and praiseworthy or deserving of censure, is judged by the Searcher of hearts according to the motives which prompted it” (Gospel Worker, 275). The same author reminds us that every deed of our “lives is judged, not by the external appearance, but from the motive which dictated the action” (3Testimonies 507). This solid statement reveals that everything depends on the purity of our motives. Our ministry needs to spring from a heart filled with love and gratitude.

Service has a variety of forms, from a smile and encouraging gesture and words, through emotional or financial help, to personal generous involvement, labor, and thoughtful ministry. In the Seminary, we equip our students with knowledge, but also train them to develop and deepen their skills to serve the people around them, the Church, and our awesome God. In one sentence, we prepare, by God’s grace and His help, leaders for faithful and balanced ministry.

In the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14–30) Jesus Christ stresses that the crucial thing in the service is our attitude toward our Master. Those who loved their Master worked diligently and their abilities were doubled. The one who was afraid of his Master and considered Him as a cruel and commanding boss (see vss. 24–25) was characterized as “wicked” and “lazy” because of his wrong thinking about his Lord. A wrong picture of God leads to a bad and idle lifestyle. Our ministry will not be a burden and unpleasant achievement but a joyful occasion, when we experience the genuine love of God. Only a person who values God’s forgiveness and acceptance to be His son or daughter, can truly love and serve (Luke 7:47; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; 5:12-13).

“Preach Christ always and when it is necessary use your words.” Indeed, only the ministry of love and grateful service matters.