Chapter 6: Have We Named God’s Provision “Struggle”?

What do we mean when we say ministry is a struggle? Here in America, often what we call struggle is actually inconvenience.

God gives an assignment. We know what He has instructed us to do. But we do not presently possess every resource necessary to accomplish it.

• Perhaps we need equipment.
• Perhaps we need facilities.
• Perhaps we need additional finances.
• Perhaps the vision is clear, but the resources arrive gradually.

We then say: “We are struggling.” But are we? God is providing, but He is not necessarily providing according to our preferred method.

Example:

The Cameras Will Come

One example concerned producing a film.

The project required four cameras. There was not enough money immediately available to simply purchase all four. But one camera came from one place. Another came from someone else. Two were still needed.

The conclusion was not: “God has failed to provide.”It was: “I asked God for four cameras. I do not know where the remaining two will come from, but I know they are coming.” That is faith.

The perceived struggle was actually the methodology of provision. The desired outcome had not changed. What changed was the route by which God supplied it.

Provision Does Not Always Mean Surplus

The same principle was illustrated through a ministry location carrying a substantial monthly rent. Month after month, the financial obligation had to be met. The congregation itself did not appear large enough naturally to support the expense. Yet the rent continued to be paid. For years, the provision continued.

So what exactly constituted a struggle? The obligation was being met. God was providing. The difficulty was that the provision was not sitting safely in an account months or weeks in advance. The discomfort came from not knowing beforehand where the next provision would come from. That is where faith enters. We would prefer:

1. God gives us all the money.
2. We deposit it.
3. We know exactly what is available.
4. We purchase what we need.
5. We never have to wonder where the next provision will come from.

I am not speaking against being a good steward and a frugal planner. But such a system as described above, could eliminate the very dependency God intends ministry to maintain. God deliberately keeps the minister aware that this work is being accomplished by His Spirit.

Faith Is Still Required in Well-Managed Ministry

Good stewardship does not eliminate faith. A ministry should manage resources responsibly. But excellent management cannot replace dependence upon God.

No matter how efficiently the ministry is operated, there will still be moments when the work requires faith.

• God may touch one person’s heart to give.
• He may move another person to purchase something the ministry needs.
• He may provide through a source the minister never anticipated.

Therefore, what appears inconvenient from the human perspective may actually be God’s method of keeping the ministry conscious of His involvement.

The process itself develops the minister.

• It builds faith.
• It teaches God’s character.
• It teaches us how He leads.
• It prevents us from assuming that ministry is succeeding simply because we possess sufficient natural resources.

The Work Must Remain God’s Work The principle is:

God does not merely want to finance His work. He intends to remain visibly involved in accomplishing it. That requires dependency. And dependency requires humility. If everything were permanently within our immediate control, we could eventually begin behaving as though the ministry were ours. But it is not ours.

• God establishes the parameters.
• God determines the timing.
• God determines the method.
• God determines what is available today and what must wait until tomorrow. And through all of it, He is working in us while simultaneously working through us.