By Festus Ndukwe.
For a minister not to be a disgrace to God and his high calling, and not end up being cast into hell because of the sin of covetousness, a minister must be ready to pay this price of looking up to and depending on God for his needs.
Readiness to live by Faith
One, he must, at the onset of his call into ministry, take a decision to live by faith, that is, depend only on God to meet his legitimate needs. Two, he must not beg for money and material things. Three, he must not manipulate people to make them give to him.
The minister must live by faith because all his resources must come from God as His Source. He must not beg, because it dishonors God when His servants beg for bread. He must not manipulate people because it will cast God and His glorious work in bad light before men.
A minister, either he is in secular employment and business or in full time ministry must live by faith for the sake of integrity, and to prove to the world that our God is a great provider. He must also live by faith so as not to be a burden to men. He must also live by faith to meet his legitimate needs and to be a blessing to others.
Ready to pay a Price
A minister must be ready to pay this price. If he is not ready, he should please not go into ministry. Actually, if a minister is called, paying this price will not be a problem for him. He will do it joyfully. One of the ways to prove a man is called is when he is willing and ready to pay the price, and begins to see God miraculously provide for him.
A minister must not go into ministry with the purpose to be rich. He may go into business to be rich, but not the ministry. However, he will be open to be blessed by God, and become a blessing to others.
Apart from the desire for fame and women, the male minister’s subtle enemy is covetousness which leads to ostentation and affluence.
●●Ndukwe, a Lagos-based minister can be reached via festus-felicia@gmail.com.
