I was going to call this inspirational piece the psychology of ministry, but I know that some people don’t like the word, ministry. For some it is associated with the institutional church, which really gives them problems. I also have in mind many of the young folks who sit in my classrooms. It is still common to hear them say something about liking spirituality, but they don’t like religion. Unfairly I believe, they link religion with the church, with doctrine or something like that. They don’t always know what they are talking about, but I think that is true of many of us older ones, too!
Hence, I want to talk about the psychology of service. I know our word, ministry, is rooted in the Latin word which means to serve. So, I am getting what I want anyway! My thoughts were provoked by something I read while doing some research for my new book. What I read was actually a piece by Matthew Syed for folks who are interested in innovation and high performance. These are two areas I have already written about in earlier books. Syed is a British journalist.
At one point in his writing, Syed tells us, “As one psychologist put it: "According to conventional wisdom, highly successful people have three things in common: motivation, ability and opportunity…. “When I think about the business world, those three are not surprising. It made me start thinking about what success might look like in the spiritual realm?
And so, I want to drag this notion into the idea of ministry or service as performed by those of us in the spiritual or religious world. I know one assumption I make is if we are a disciple, in the Christian sense, or a follower of one of the other major religious traditions, I believe there is a service component that comes along with the call. If we believe, we serve. That is my motto. Syed quotes another psychologist who claims there are three ingredients: motivation, ability and opportunity. I think these three translates into the spiritual realm, too.
I realize I can say I think those who believe need to serve, but I also realize they probably won’t do it unless they are motivated to do it. Telling them they should does not mean they will do it. Motivation for ministry comes from our intrinsic will to serve. Perhaps we can make little kids do it and maybe some of us will do it for peer approval. But I am talking about the longer term, often invisible ministry that so many are doing. That comes from some place of intrinsic motivation to do what they are called to do.
Secondly, Syed mentions ability. This can get a little tricky. Sometimes we think ministry is appropriately left to the church professionals---perhaps the ordained or those blessed. If we think that, we effectively take ourselves off the service hook! I don’t see ability in that way. Ability means we are able physically to feed the poor. We are emotionally stable enough to spend some time with the lonely, helpless, etc. We have average intellectual ability to engage discussions of justice and do something about our racial and economic inequalities. I purposely am differentiating between serving and being successful. Sometimes our service will look successful, but more often than not, our ministry is not judged that way. For example, not everyone who visits the sick will heal them.
The third factor Syed identifies is opportunity. This comes across perfectly in a context of ministry. Folks who serve are always on the prowl for opportunities the Spirit provides. Sometimes I see another opportunity and know I cannot do it. Or maybe I am not the best one to serve in that particular situation, so I might suggest someone else do it. In addition to opportunity, Syed offers one more aspect.
He writes, “there is a fourth ingredient: success depends heavily on how we approach our interactions with other people. Do we try to claim as much value [for ourselves] as we can, or do we contribute value?” I believe this fourth one is crucial for ministry. Our effectiveness is dependent on how we approach our relationships. I always remember that ministry is service. I am there to contribute value. It does not matter what I am getting out of it. Ministry should be compassion---an act of love.
It is not even up to be to dictate the value the other receives from my ministry. I don’t do ministry to look good, feel good or any other motivation. I serve because I believe that is what the Spirit calls and expects me to do. In this sense ministry is a matter of obedience, rather than being successful in any worldly sense. My ministry may make no noticeable difference, but that is not the reason to do it.
I appreciate this look at what service includes. Motivation, ability, opportunity and how we approach other people are key components. I can see the traces of the Spirit’s presence in all four aspects.
Hence, I want to talk about the psychology of service. I know our word, ministry, is rooted in the Latin word which means to serve. So, I am getting what I want anyway! My thoughts were provoked by something I read while doing some research for my new book. What I read was actually a piece by Matthew Syed for folks who are interested in innovation and high performance. These are two areas I have already written about in earlier books. Syed is a British journalist.
At one point in his writing, Syed tells us, “As one psychologist put it: "According to conventional wisdom, highly successful people have three things in common: motivation, ability and opportunity…. “When I think about the business world, those three are not surprising. It made me start thinking about what success might look like in the spiritual realm?
And so, I want to drag this notion into the idea of ministry or service as performed by those of us in the spiritual or religious world. I know one assumption I make is if we are a disciple, in the Christian sense, or a follower of one of the other major religious traditions, I believe there is a service component that comes along with the call. If we believe, we serve. That is my motto. Syed quotes another psychologist who claims there are three ingredients: motivation, ability and opportunity. I think these three translates into the spiritual realm, too.
I realize I can say I think those who believe need to serve, but I also realize they probably won’t do it unless they are motivated to do it. Telling them they should does not mean they will do it. Motivation for ministry comes from our intrinsic will to serve. Perhaps we can make little kids do it and maybe some of us will do it for peer approval. But I am talking about the longer term, often invisible ministry that so many are doing. That comes from some place of intrinsic motivation to do what they are called to do.
Secondly, Syed mentions ability. This can get a little tricky. Sometimes we think ministry is appropriately left to the church professionals---perhaps the ordained or those blessed. If we think that, we effectively take ourselves off the service hook! I don’t see ability in that way. Ability means we are able physically to feed the poor. We are emotionally stable enough to spend some time with the lonely, helpless, etc. We have average intellectual ability to engage discussions of justice and do something about our racial and economic inequalities. I purposely am differentiating between serving and being successful. Sometimes our service will look successful, but more often than not, our ministry is not judged that way. For example, not everyone who visits the sick will heal them.
The third factor Syed identifies is opportunity. This comes across perfectly in a context of ministry. Folks who serve are always on the prowl for opportunities the Spirit provides. Sometimes I see another opportunity and know I cannot do it. Or maybe I am not the best one to serve in that particular situation, so I might suggest someone else do it. In addition to opportunity, Syed offers one more aspect.
He writes, “there is a fourth ingredient: success depends heavily on how we approach our interactions with other people. Do we try to claim as much value [for ourselves] as we can, or do we contribute value?” I believe this fourth one is crucial for ministry. Our effectiveness is dependent on how we approach our relationships. I always remember that ministry is service. I am there to contribute value. It does not matter what I am getting out of it. Ministry should be compassion---an act of love.
It is not even up to be to dictate the value the other receives from my ministry. I don’t do ministry to look good, feel good or any other motivation. I serve because I believe that is what the Spirit calls and expects me to do. In this sense ministry is a matter of obedience, rather than being successful in any worldly sense. My ministry may make no noticeable difference, but that is not the reason to do it.
I appreciate this look at what service includes. Motivation, ability, opportunity and how we approach other people are key components. I can see the traces of the Spirit’s presence in all four aspects.
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