Is It Worth It?

This past Sunday, Bill Lake, an area representative for Biblical Ministries Worldwide spoke at my home church on the question "Is it worth it?" Given the difficult times the American economy finds itself in and the rising costs of missions work, this question is truly relevant, and one I am sure many are asking but few are getting solid answers for.

In an effort to find a biblical answer to this question, Mr. Lake turned to II Corinthians 4:7-18. If you want to hear the whole of the message, invite him to your church, but here I want to give some of my thoughts and reactions to the question.

Consider the experience of Paul. He himself lists numerous forms of suffering that he endured;

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
(II Cor. 11:23-28 ESV)

Given these experiences, notice how he regards them in 4:17 - a "light, momentary affliction." The first word translated "light" can be understood as frivolous, fickle, something that bears little weight or significance. He is not saying "it didn't hurt", he is pointing out that at the end of the day, if these moments of suffering are what he must endure for the mission he was called to complete, then his response is "bring it on."

But why was Paul willing to face the suffering? It seems he is looking forward to the glory it will bring him in the rest of the verse, but that does not seem consistent with Paul's attitude elsewhere about his ministry. However, if we look back in the context, the glory seems not directed at himself, but at God. In verse 15 he points out two purposes for his ministry, first for the sake of those who came to believe. The ministry was to bring people to Christ, and thus was to benefit the people being reached. But this was not the main reason. The primary purpose for Paul's ministry was to glorify God. As more people come to a saving faith in Christ, as the church grows, God's glory is magnified.

Does Paul see mission work as being "worth it". I agree with Bill Lake when he believes Paul would answer with a resounding "YES!" Just think what Christ has done in your life, what he is continuing to do, and what he will do when you stand before the judgment seat of God. What will the rest of the world say when they must stand before God? The keys to eternal life were given to the church, and it is our responsibility to tell others, giving them the opportunity to glorify God with us.

It is amazing how quickly we can become focused on our immediate surroundings, a faltering economy, tight budgets, empty or near-empty pocket books. Our prayers generally focus on ourselves and those close to us. But I am convinced that as we learn to focus on the things that are unseen rather than what we do see with our own eyes, we will begin to understand why Paul said "it is worth it", and we too will answer "it was worth every ounce of my being." ...For the glory of God!