When I think of my business as a ministry it is a game changer for me. When I say my business is a ministry, what I mean is I truly believe we all have God given gifts and when we use those gifts (defined in the Bible: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-30, and Ephesians 4:11) we can be assured that we are living according to God's will.
Years ago I took a test that identified your three highest scoring gifts and mine were Teaching, Serving, and Leadership. I didn't know what that meant exactly at the time, but now I see that I am allowed to use all three gifts at Encouragers through serving, teaching, and leading others. To think of Encouragers as a ministry is to really believe I am right where God wants me to be.
Jesus gave many examples to his disciples of how they were to serve others. On the evening prior to his arrest (the last supper), he washed all of the disciple's feet, even Judas, the one who would betray him. He said he was doing this as"an example," that they would serve others as well as each other.
15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. John 13:15-16
I think of the Apostles and the fear they may have felt Saturday before Resurrection Sunday. I mean imagine...for three years they have been getting groomed for a job that was not clearly defined in their minds. They had learned from Jesus, from his examples, how to love and care for others, to serve others even to the point of death, especially in the light of watching Jesus suffer at such great length, seems pretty overwhelming to me. I know I would have been standing on shaky knees, and I'm sure they were also.
The Great Commission was given to the disciples, that they should "go into all the world" and teach the good news,
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Every day we are given choices. Some of the most rewarding times of my life are when I can be a blessing, and when I can allow myself to receive blessings from others so they will be blessed. When you look for opportunities to bless and be blessed it's like having Christmas morning every day. Even better, it's like Resurrection Sunday, when Jesus came back from the grave to give us the greatest blessing, eternal life.
Happy Easter from the Encouragers Team