The Goal of my Personal Ministry

As a young pastor it can become easy to fall in love with the idea of being an icon of pastoral ministry. I am not sure any young church planter or lead pastor dreams of his ministry as being one of being the pastor of a small church in relative obscurity. Most of us hope for a well known preaching ministry, a rapidly expanding church, accolades from other pastor, and maybe even a couple of published and well received books. However, I am reminded that my goal should be just to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. No matter how many people hear me preach, how many books I write, how many conferences I preach, or how big my church gets, I have not fought the good fight, finished the race, or kept the faith until that day when I close my eyes in death and open them to see the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award to me on that Day. In fact, I could never preach one conference, write one book, see my church burst with growth and I could still be one who receives the crown. Why? The crown is not given to those who are well-known but to those who are faithful, perhaps especially when said faithfulness is ministering in relative obscurity is some small church for the love of Christ's people and the glory of Christ's name.

6 For ​I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, ​I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ​the righteous judge, will award to me on ​that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.