Why a ministry? There is no money in that.
A chord was struck in me when a person asked my wife and I why we chose to start a ministry because of there being no money in it. Normally, I would not entertain a reaction to comments like these and move to discard them as ignorance. However, for some reason, this has been eating at me for a few days compelling a response. At first, I wanted to discard this comment as being a meaningless thought from the same minds as those who tend to apply the word “hero” to a skilled athlete as well as calibrate their scales of value and worth by using personal pleasure and selfish gain. Fortunately, I decided not to stay silent.
Let me start by defining what I deem to be a hero. A hero is someone who pushes past every human impulse of danger knowing that there is a greater purpose than their own, someone who is gifted with calmness and precision to remove evil from a distance and who also carries the courage to do the same at arm’s reach, and also someone who sacrifices their own physical and/or personal-self for a purpose which they cannot fully understand.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NLT)
Now let’s look at value. The money that may lack in ministry is replaced by joy and abundance graced by the hands of God. This being the result of rightness, sacrifice, love, and humility. Are the services we provide less valuable or credible because we do not accept blue cross/blue shield, or that we chose not to be state licensed which would place us under the thumb of secular materialism and evolutionary deception? Maybe it is due to the fact that we bridge the Word of God with modern behavioral science, rather than accepting the mainstream theories of who we are, how we are, and what we do to be determined by neuro synaptic activity and whatever gene decides to be transcribed at that moment. Or, maybe it is because we consciously chose not to confuse the order of cause and effect when learning about epigenetics, neuroplasticity, circadian rhythms, CLOCK genes, and levels of glucocorticoids and melatonin and knowing how these can influence our behaviors. In other words, what comes first, belief, then thought, followed by action? Or, is it action first, then thought, followed by belief? If you are told you have PTSD, did it develop before the traumatic experience, or after?
Just because someone maintains a level of cost for their services so that all people can receive it, which likely lessens the probability for providers to afford an oversized home overlooking the ocean, is their purpose and what they can offer less valuable? Are the people who spend their entire adult lives overseas helping underprivileged cultures less valuable because there is no money in that? Is it right that cancer treatments financially destroy those in need of it, and that the cost of private insurance can be equal to that of most mortgages? If monetary reward is the measurement by which we all should use to weigh value, then maybe we should advise against anyone joining the armed forces as there is no money in that either. Let this pandemic open everyone’s eye’s to how off course our society is in regards to what is considered valuable and important. Think about what surfaced as being truly essential. Although all jobs can be viewed essential as they provide a way of living for all families, however, did any of these have to do with the NBA, NFL, filming industry, music industry, etc.? No. It was the farmers, military, first responders, Pastors, ministries, healthcare workers, utility workers, and the shipping industries.
My wife also being a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor with a BA, and I having over 32-years in the fire service along with 9-years of college awarding me a PhD and, because we are not interested in overinflating the cost of our services so that we can drive a fancy car, live in a mansion, and have other worldly materials, which are meaningless apart from God, does this render our services worthless and ineffective? If so, then continue on your way and we will do the same.
“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” (Matthew 10:14, NLT).
Thank you to all the workers of this nation and all nations under God.
May The Lord continue to be your refuge.
Dr. Brett Snow, Licensed Clinical Pastoral counselor.
Surviving Life Ministries.
survivinglifem@gmail.com
sl-ministries.com
