"Fruitless" Ministry?

Jeff Iorg is President of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Francisco. He came to Paris a few years ago and did a "mini-retreat" for our team. When I was at GGBTS a few weeks ago for a meeting, I got a copy of his book, The Character of Leadership. Here's a quote that really spoke to me about the difficulty of working in fields and ministries that may seem fruitless, or about those moments of wondering, "what's next, Lord?" He's speaking here about the importance of recognizing where we are in Christ and, more specifically, being "used" by God.

Whatever pleases God and advances his mission is what is important -- not that we be used! Sometimes, God does not use a person for awhile as part of his purpose for them. Even Paul, the most effective Christian missionary and writer of all time, experienced this. Paul was busy in mission service when he was arrested and entangled in the Roman legal system. While at the peak of his ministry effectiveness and influence, Acts 24:27 records, "After two years had passed...Felix left Paul in prison."

Are you kidding me? How can that be? The most effective missionary/theologian in history was left in prison for two years while a low-ranking Roman ruler waited for a bribe to release him. How could that have happened? Why not another earthquake, like the one in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40) which set Paul free earlier in his ministry? The answer, the only answer that makes sense, is God wanted Paul to wait in prison. This was his purpose for Paul. His assignment was to wait until God was ready for him to go to Rome. Sometimes, God accomplishes his purpose by not using us the way we imagine he should, the way that seems logical, or the way that makes the most sense to us.

A good word from a leader...