What would attract you to a church? What do you look for in a church that you
would consider alive? Would you be
impressed by a multimillion euro building?
Do you expect to be taught by a gifted communicator? Do you want to worship with a professional-like
praise band? Maybe a church should look
to growing numbers? Maybe you are
looking for somewhere where you have great spiritual encounters?
Would you agree with me that none of those are necessarily
indicators of success?
Sometimes success in Jesus’ eyes is different than success
in the world’s eyes. Take the opening
chapters of the book of Revelation. The
church at Smyrna doesn’t look successful, but Jesus thinks it is. ‘I know your
afflictions and your poverty, yet you are rich’ (Rev. 2:9). The church in Laodicea looked successful, but
Jesus said it was not. ‘You say, “I am
rich”, but … you are wretched, pitiful and poor’ (Rev. 3:17).
So, if the world’s view of success is not necessarily Christ’s
understanding of success, then how do we know we are doing ministry in a way
that pleases Jesus.
1. Successful ministry points to Jesus (14)
The church at Corinth had been plagued by outside
preachers. These preachers were eloquent
communicators. They were able to charge
big fees for their services. They boasted
of amazing spiritual experiences. They
also rubbished the apostle Paul. They
said that he was so unimpressive. In
particular they pointed out that his mission in Ephesus had ended with him
having to flee that city.
The apostle Paul had no problem telling admitting his
seeming inadequacies. He had told them,
in a previous letter, ‘I came to you in weakness, and with fear and trembling’
(1 Corinthians 2:3). He did not look
successful. But his ministry was blessed
by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Paul now gives us a picture to point out that Jesus-driven
ministry is about showing the world that Jesus is great, not that we are great. He talks about something that the Corinthians
would have been familiar with—the Roman victory procession. After a Roman emperor had conquered a nation,
he would parade through the city with the captives trailing behind him. We are not the conqueror, we are that the
captives. Our lives point to his victory
not ours.
We had resisted Christ, but he conquered us in love. We had been helplessly lost, and he found
us. We are rebels, and now we are his
slaves. We have been captivated by his
mercy. But we are captives with a
smile. We know that it is in slavery to
Jesus that there is real freedom. We
love our captor.
There is a witness in showing the world how Jesus is changing
us. There is also a witness in admitting
how far short we fall of his goodness, and how good he is to persist in loving
us. We don’t have to hide. We can be real. We needn’t act like we are strong. Our faith is not about us, it is about him.
2. Success is measured by who we are seeking to
please (15-16)
Along the route of the Roman conqueror’s procession incense was
burned and perfumed was poured out. There
was a great smell that spoke of victory.
Paul says that our lives and our message emits that smell.
Paul preached Christ crucified (1 Corinthian 1:23). He focused on the death and resurrection of
Jesus. That is the victory that defeated
our sin and won us to himself. That
message may not impress the world. But
that message can’t be improved on. We
don’t need to speak a more relevant word.
We have the one truth that every person needs. It is found on every page of the Bible. We don’t make the gospel relevant, we simply
show that it is relevant.
Notice that this smell has substance. Our lives and our words spread, ‘the aroma of
the knowledge of Jesus.’ The Methodist
Women’s Association had the simply mission statement, ‘to know Christ and make
him known.’ That is what is being spoken
of here.
Because this smell involves the knowledge of Jesus’. We do need to speak. Even though that can be intimidating. I heard of a man who tried to silently
witness to his faith all through his working life. When he was retiring, his colleagues said to
him, ‘we know that there is something different about you. But we can’t figure it out. Are you a Buddhist?’ They hadn’t come to know about Jesus!
Notice that there are three audiences for this aroma.
There are those who smell the gospel in our lives and hear
it in our words, and they find it repulsive.
It reminds them that they are condemned and dying. Don’t think that you have failed when you
faithful convey the truth and it is rejected.
Then there are those who smell the gospel in our lives and
hear it in our words, and they celebrate.
They know that they need forgiveness and they are captured by Christ’s love. We see their reaction and get to share in the
rejoicing of heaven as they come to repentance.
But there is a third audience. The most important audience. We are ‘to God’ a pleasing aroma. We live our lives and speak his gospel in
order to please him. If we are faithful
in our witness we will always be successful, even if we are rejected by every
hearer.
3. Success is rooted in sincerity (17)
So, a life, ministry or church that is successful is one
that points to Jesus, seeks to please God (even if people remain unimpressed),
and, finally, depends on the Holy Spirit.
‘Who is equal to such a task?’ On our own, none of us!
Paul’s opponents ‘peddled the word of God for profit’
(17).
I am aware of how I can preach for profit. Not really for more, but for something that
is more attractive to me, for praise. Instead,
of preaching for profit we are to preach with sincerity. All of our lives, ministries and words are to
be sincere.
What does sincerity look like? Sincerity knows it’s not about us, but Jesus. Sincerity knows it’s impressing people, but
seeking the applause of heaven.
Sincerity doesn’t depend of our gifting and talents, but on reflecting
the beauty of grace.
Conclusion—the smell
of success
How do we live a successful, God pleasing life? How we ensure that we act as a church or
ministry that is successful in God’s eyes?
Success is not about impressing the world. Success is not about numbers. Success is not based on our wisdom and
knowledge. Success is not measured in
gathering a crowd. Success is pointing to
Jesus, pleasing God and depending on the Holy Spirit.
Commenting on these verses, the Bible Speaks Today commentary
comments, ‘what is important to God is not the bigness of a building, or the
numbers that gather, but faithful and sacrificial service, based on the example
of Christ himself.’
So, let’s remember it is not about us, it is about seeking
to please God and to is to be for his glory alone.
Sola Dei Gloria.
No comments:
Post a Comment