Vanity
meaningless
a chasing after the wind
Are all themes of the book of Ecclesiastes and only now am I realizing that this also applies to youth ministry.
When I read verses like
And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless Ecclesiastes 2:19
I realize how futile my efforts are if youth ministry is indeed what I have given my whole life to.
When I started youth ministry, I thought youth ministry was immune to the wails and woes of Ecclesiastes (how naive I was), and I threw myself at it with great abandon. I’ve given my whole life to young people, but I should have given my whole life to Jesus.
No, I don’t worship ministry, although I have. Yes, I love Jesus, but some days I’ve loved the gratification of man’s words to satisfy my soul rather than the gentle whisper of my Savior.
I’m learning, and re-learning, every day, how to commit my life to Jesus and the eternal rather than the ministry and the temporal. I am taking Solomons advice
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:24,25
There is no enjoyment of ministry without God.
Youth Ministry, like any career, will only take you so far, satisfy you so much, before you start to have those “What is this all about”, Solomon kind of thoughts.
If you’re a young youth pastor, don’t give your whole life to youth ministry because youth ministry can only give so much back to you. If you’re a veteran youth worker, it’s a good time to re-commit your life to Jesus.
Give your life to Jesus, find joy in him and you will receive more than you ever though possible and, unlike youth ministry
“those who put their trust in Him are never disappointed.” Romans 10:11 NASB