How we measure success in Christian ministry is an interesting topic, and no doubt could lead to hours of deep conversation among our fellow workers and friends within church circles.  Today I’ve been remembering something that changed my perception of success in ministry which I thought I’d share here.

Much of my time has been spent around worship ministry in the local church, and by ‘worship’ I mean the leading of sung worship as I’m very aware that it’s not just about music and singing. This post is however, focussed on the musical kind of worship that we’re used to when many of us gather together on a typical Sunday.

Serving for many years in a worship leader role within a local church context has not only developed me in obvious and expected ways, but in many other ways that are less obvious. Being faithful in ministry for long periods of time brings great challenge. It tests your resolve, your commitment, your patience, your character etc. It is also a journey of sorts in one’s walk with Jesus. For me, I started young and had to navigate all the usual things such as honouring my elders (including those in the congregation), respecting leaders and authority, not becoming proud as it’s hard being humbled, and so on. Another key area for development was the response of my heart following any time of ministry, and how I then measured success. So how do we do that?

Success is a funny thing

Success is a funny thing. This word is mostly defined as the achievement of a desired result or outcome, but often adds the idea of ones improved circumstances, or situation in life. With that overall definition in mind, success in this sense can cause us to feel good about ourselves and if we’re not careful it so easily leads to pride and we know where that ends up! Don’t get me wrong, we can be pleased, or satisfied even with how we fulfilled our role, but it must have the stamp of humility on it somewhere, and we must realise that any success is only there because of His help and provision in the first place. 

Success in Ministry?

So what was it then that changed my perception of success in ministry, in particular leading worship. When we lead worship, or preach a sermon, or serve within our role, there is always a time after the event when we process what just happened. Some might call it a review, to decompress, or others might call it post event evaluation, but whatever you call it, it’s in this moment that a response of the heart is being formed. Us creative types are often quite critical of our performance, or completely the opposite and think too highly of ourselves, either way, there’s a response happening inside that will produce something good and helpful, or something less helpful perhaps.  John 3:30 is a helpful reminder to us that ‘He must increase but I must decrease’.

In our minds, our success as worship leaders and musicians is often directly linked to the quality of our playing, the quality of the sound, our equipment, our setup, the participation, even how nice the room was decorated, modern, old, colourful, plain etc. It was in a post event moment like this that I believe God spoke to me clearly with two statements in response to a question I asked Him in prayer. 

We’d prepared, we had setup, we led the meeting and it was blessed, and then we packed up and went home. Something in me though was a bit dissatisfied with the overall response in the room that night despite people clearly being moved by His presence among us. My heart was processing things and forming a response when I prayed and said “God, I did my best with what I had, I hope you enjoyed it, I hope you were pleased?” Immediately in my mind came two images. The first was of a room with people worshiping with their hands held up and eyes closed, with less than perfect surroundings and simple acceptable music. The second was of a room full of people so happy, singing enthusiastically, with the best of everything, gear, surroundings, musicality, all of it. Image one came with “I enjoyed it!”, and the second came with “they enjoyed it!”.  Wow! What a contrast, but notice the second “they enjoyed it!” was followed by silence, nothing more to add.

Again… “I enjoyed it!”, vs “they enjoyed it!”

Instantly I was struck with what I believe was a revelation of God’s heart towards what we do in ministry. Both scenes looked good in their own ways, but notice God wasn’t judging the second negatively with “they enjoyed it!”, He was just stating a difference between the two. I know which of the two matters most to Him and now to me. The first image was lacking quality from a human perspective and it wasn’t difficult to see some flaws, flaws that were absent in the second image yet with a different response.

Again… “I enjoyed it!”, vs “they enjoyed it!”

Don’t hear what I’m not saying either. Of course we should enjoy what we do and He would want us to. Please don’t miss the point here.

This was a very personal and simple moment that I’ve been reluctant to share, but somehow today feels appropriate and perhaps helpful for someone who may be reading this.

I always strive to do my best within the limitations of life and circumstances; I want to play well, lead well and  be excellent at what I do, but my measure of success is helped by the simple question I now ask myself regularly. Did God enjoy what we just did, or would He say to me ‘you enjoyed that’ instead? Of course the best result is that we all enjoyed it, but Him first always.

The response of your heart matters

Be encouraged as you work in ministry for Him. Be careful with the response of your heart during and after your time of ministry, and protect yourself from the need to impress ANY person around you, by keeping your eyes fixed on one goal only, and that is to please your Father in heaven, and make sure He is pleased with what you do in service to Him.

What now?

If something you’ve read here has spoken to you, I would simply encourage you to take some time quietly thinking about your ministry and where your focus is. Can you identify anything you do, how you do it, or perhaps the motives in it that could perhaps be operating in a way that is more for the enjoyment of the room and for yourself than for His pleasure? Take action if you need to and encourage your team to keep in mind the importance of pleasing Him first.

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