Being Effective and Productive in Ministry

“⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” – 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV1984)

Are you feeling concerned about being effective in ministry?  Have you felt a time of unproductivity and wondered why?  2 Peter 1:8 says that “If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  What are the qualities that have this kind of impact on our life and how do we increase their measure?  Let’s look at them in the Scriptural order given.  Mostly, I am proposing some basic diagnostic questions to probe and help us see where we might be holding up our effectiveness in our ministry.

FAITH- Simply put, this is trusting God and His son’s provision for our sin debt through his substitutionary death on the cross and resurrection.  Trusting in God in this way also requires understanding who we are (a sinner) and who God is (just and loving).  After making the decision to trust, we also come to learn other things about God (faithful, eternal, all-knowing, etc.)  So, do we act in accordance with our beliefs?  Do we really believe what we say we believe?  If we believe He is bigger than all our problems, are we entrusting Him with them?  If we believe He will provide, do we wait on Him or try to take matters in our own hands?  If we believe He is good, do we believe trial is a good work in our life or do we doubt?

GOODNESS- This is having a repentive heart and choosing rightly.  Have we confessed sin our lives?  Are we abolishing sins of commission and attacking sins of omission? Are we seeking to please God or do we have disdain for authority?  Do we find joy in obedience?  Are we following through with the good we know we ought to do?

KNOWLEDGE- Having intellectual assent or understanding of God’s word is critical to our minds being transformed and renewed.  Are we in Scripture regularly?  Do we study and delight in God’s word?  Do we put ourselves in places where we can learn from others about God’s word?  Are we in relationships that sharpen us or challenge us spiritually?

SELF-CONTROL- Discipline and having an eternal perspective can help us to choose rightly.  But how do we do when faced with temptation, selfish desires, and our natural tendencies?  We need to identify our weaknesses and figure out an “emergency response” plan.  Do we have an accountability partner with whom we can share our sin?  Do we have Scripture memorized?  Do we take ownership of the power given to us by the Holy Spirit through our relationship with Jesus?

PERSEVERANCE- A steadfastness for long periods of time, a faithfulness in spite of resistance, and a pressing on in the face of a trial are essential – but hard business.  Do we run away when things get tough or do we stick to it?  Do we love and forgive others instead of abandoning them?  Do we rely on our own feelings or God’s strength and promises?

GODLINESS- This is a holy desire to become more like God – to be an authentic imitation of Him.  Do we know what God loves?  God prizes?  God desires?  Do we pray for that to be the same for us?  Do we keep eternity in mind and form goals and perspectives with that end in sight?  Are we willing to pursue what God wants above all things - even above all people in our life?

BROTHERLY KINDNESS- In general, this is having a servant-heart like our Savior, Jesus, who gave up a crown to wash dirty feet.  Are we serving others?  Are we trying to help others along and love them as we would want for ourself?  Do we serve with no desire for man’s praise or return in this world?  Are we generous and share?  Are we using our gifts to edify and enrich the Body of Christ?

LOVE- I don’t believe this was at the end of the list because of its lack of importance, but because I believe all the qualities build and this is the ultimate expression of God’s heart.  He wants us to be humble and truly understand who we are and who He is.  When we do this, we see others as ourselves and we love.  Do we share the Gospel in word and deed?  Are we willing to self-sacrifice?  To be humiliated?  Are we willing to get dirty and work in the trenches?  Are we willing to feel pain and thus the joyous aftermath of a well-fought battle?

Once we feel like we have made it through this list on some level, I believe we are called cycle through it again and again on another level- a deeper more significant level.  We will never finish and become perfect, but we can increase the measure of these qualities in our life.  As we do we WILL become effective and productive in our knowledge of Jesus Christ and the ministry He has called us to.