When my children were young, I let them believe our dishwasher didn’t work. I wanted to strengthen my relationship with them in small, undetectable ways. Washing and drying dishes together provided about 20 minutes of one-on-one time with each little helper. We always had meaningful or fun conversations during this time, and they learned valuable household skills, strengthened their work ethic, and developed godly character.
I use the term “helper” loosely here. If I handled the dishwashing myself—especially if I used the dishwasher—the task would’ve been accomplished in a tiny fraction of the time. Truthfully, I didn’t need help. Without my children, the dishes would’ve been cleaner and drier, and the kitchen tidier.
But perfect cleanliness wasn’t my goal—the good of my children and the growth of our relationship was.
Similarly, God uses His children to accomplish His work—not because He needs us, but because we need Him, and He desires a relationship with us.
In providing some context for his ministry, Paul told the Corinthian church, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth…For we are God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7, 9a).
Any form of ministry—whether it’s raising children, loving your neighbor, teaching a Bible study, or any other form of work and faithful stewardship—can sometimes be…challenging. It’s easy to become distracted by the difficulties and see it as a burden instead of a blessing.
But when we remember that it’s God’s ministry—not ours—and He has allowed us to be involved, we can renew our minds to think of serving Him as a “get-to,” not a “have-to.”
God invites us to participate with Him in carrying out His ministry here on earth—for His glory and the good of others. He knows it’s good for us, and our participation delights Him.
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:1).
