God's Requirement for the Ministry
1 Timothy 1:12
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"
Everybody doesn't deserve to be in the ministry. One of the common questions I am asked from preachers is how to determine whether they should use someone in a ministry of the church. Often I receive emails from church members asking me what they can do so that their pastor would ask them to be involved in some ministry of their church. This is certainly a worthy question to be answered.
To be involved in the ministry is a privilege and not a right. Nobody has a right to be involved in the ministry. Just because you are saved does not mean that you deserve the right to have a leadership position in some ministry. Just because you have been a member of a church for many years does not give you the right to have a leadership position in a ministry of the church. Just because your parents are full-time servants of the LORD does not give you the right to hold a position of leadership in the ministry. Holding a position of leadership in the LORD's ministry is a privilege.
Paul said that there was one thing that caused God to put him in the ministry and that was his faithfulness. This is interesting because Paul was very knowledgeable of the Word of God, and yet that was not why God put him in the ministry. Paul was very influential in the religious community, and yet that is not why God placed him in the ministry. Paul's faithfulness is what grabbed God's attention and it is the very thing that caused him to be placed in the ministry.
Faithfulness is the key to determining whether someone should have the privilege of being involved in the leadership of a ministry. Faithfulness is a sign of character, and God doesn't need characterless people representing Him. Too many preachers are enamored with talent more than they are with faithfulness. Preacher, talent certainly can help a certain ministry to be better, but if the talented person is unfaithful, then that talent will cause your more problems than what it is worth. Faithfulness to church and the Word of God is what you should look for when giving someone a position of leadership in the ministry.
Furthermore, you will notice that Paul said he was "enabled" because he was put into the ministry. When you give someone position in the ministry, you are empowering them to influence others. They must be faithful because their position will influence others to do what they are doing.
Finally, if you desire to be in a leadership role of a ministry, then you need to be sure you are faithful in every area of your life. Christian, you need to realize that God is the One Who enabled Paul to be put into the ministry. Therefore, if you will be faithful to do right, whether or not others like you, God will see it and will put you into the ministry. More than talent or being in the "in" crowd of your church, you need to be faithful to serving the LORD, for that is the one requirement God has to put you into the ministry.
Let me give a friendly warning to those who are already in the ministry. Your faithfulness in the past is why God placed you in the ministry, so continue being faithful now. You have a responsibility to God and to those whom you lead to continue being faithful. Don't think that your position gives you the right to stop being faithful. God can remove you from your position as quickly as He placed you in it. Always be faithful to what the LORD would have you do and you will find that you will stay in favor with God in your ministry.