Introduction: There is an assumption that stands behind the task assigned for this sermon. Our task is to understand what it means to be faithful in ministry. But standing behind that assignment is the correct assumption that faithfulness in ministry should greatly matter to us — that faithfulness in ministry is a standard that we should greatly desire to live up to. Why is it important to define faithfulness in ministry? It is because faithfulness in the ministry is the standard of success IN THE EYES OF GOD. It is important because God requires faithfulness and is pleased with faithfulness. FAITHFULNESS IN MINISTRY MATTERS TO US BECAUSE LOVING AND PLEASING GOD MATTERS TO US. This is what ministry is ultimately measured by — have we been faithful? THIS RECOGNIZES WHERE WE HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBILITY. Our relationship with Christ is not ultimately explained by our choice — it was His choice. ESV John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. Our calling and giftedness for ministry is not ultimately explained by our choice — it represents His assignment. ESV 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: Our placement in ministry, our opportunities in ministry, are the result of divine sovereignty and the outworking of divine providence. NAS 1 Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; Even the FRUIT of our ministries is set forth in Scripture as the product of God. ESV 1 Corinthians 3:5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. BUT WE MUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE THINK THROUGH THAT. THESE TRUTHS ARE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY WELL-MEANING PEOPLE TO MEAN THAT PEOPLE DON’T MATTER ALL. THAT’S A GREAT ERROR. None of this means that human responsibility is diminished. None of this means that our role in God’s work is inconsequential. None of this means that there is no room for the recognition of people who are used by God for spiritual good. PAUL WAS NEVER SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT OR SAID THAT BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, WE SHOULD REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HUMAN CONTRIBUTION. ESV 1 Corinthians 16:17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. ESV Philippians 2:25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. BUT WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT OUR MINISTRY ASPIRATIONS — WHEN CONSIDERING OUR OWN SERVICE — ARE GREATLY SIMPLIFIED. NOW MY AMBITION IN MINISTRY — JUST AS IN LIFE — CAN BE SINGULARLY FOCUSED. NAS 2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. Ministry success is measured by faithfulness — by whether or not we are pleasing God. Given what God has assigned to us, how will we respond? Given what God has entrusted to us, how will we manage what is entrusted to us? AND IF FAITHFULNESS IS THE AIM, THEN WE MUST ASK, “WHAT DOES FAITHFULNESS CONSIST OF?”