30/01/2026
WHEN MINISTRY FEELS UNREWARDING
“I can’t do ministry.”
“I can’t be a pastor.”
“Missionary work is not for me.”
Most of the time, if you critically examine why people make such statements, you will discover that they are afraid of how they will cope. Pastors, missionaries, and ministers of the gospel have often been classified as poor people or as those who depend solely on their congregation for sustenance. But where in the Bible has it been said that God is unable to take care of His servants?
All through Scripture, right from the Old Testament, we see men who did God’s work and were well taken care of by Him. The question is not whether God is capable of taking care of you when you do His work, because that cannot be questioned. The real question is: are you truly doing God’s work? Are you diligent at your duty post? Are you a faithful steward?
Without controversy, God has integrity and can be trusted. He is not one to go back on His word. What most people have failed to realize is that God is their Master, and they are His servants. Before a servant can boldly expect wages or reward from his master, he must have completed the duty assigned to him.
Christ Jesus is not only your Savior who saved you from sin; He is also your Master and Lord—One who owns you and will demand an account of the assignment He gave you. If a man like Dangote would not deny his workers their wages after a job well done, whether to maintain his integrity or avoid public disgrace, what makes you think God would do less?
God is a Rewarder. Someone once called Him the richest Monarch ever. There is no way you would work for God and not be rewarded. No wonder Apostle Paul said he had finished his course and was expecting a crown laid up for him because of a job well done. He also explained that we do not run to obtain an earthly, corruptible prize like athletes, but that the race set before us—if done well—deserves a prize that is incorruptible. This reveals the character of God: He rewards His labourers.
The reason you are afraid to do ministry because you feel you might starve or die is simply because you do not rate God highly enough. You do not trust His provision. You do not believe He will take care of you.
And for those already in ministry who seem not to be seeing the “benefits,” could it be that you are not doing the work well? Could it be that you are merely wearing the collar of a pastor or carrying the title of a missionary without putting in the labour that deserves a reward? Could it also be that you took on pastoring simply to pass time while waiting for a more “beneficial” job?
God is never the problem. How you do His work matters.
There will be times of lack even while serving. Doing God’s work is not always rosy, just as working a secular job is not always enjoyable. God teaches His servants to be content as long as they have food and clothing. The problem is that some want to put in 5% effort and expect a 1000-fold return overnight. Ministry is not gambling.
The truth is, whether or not you are actively involved in ministry, whether or not you are a full-time pastor, as long as you are a believer, you have been called to do the work of God (2 Corinthians 5:17–20). You will be rewarded accordingly, based on how you have done that work.
May you not be among those who will be wailing and gnashing their teeth because of a job not properly done.
©️ NIFES National
