Want to do something great for God? Be mindful of the price

Do you have big dreams of what you want to do for the Kingdom?

After decades of striving to build, serve and write for God, I’ve learned a few things.

I’ve learned about the incessant presence of pride in every ministry endeavor. About the destructive power of sin, even among Christian leaders, and the need for repentance. About the people and spiritual forces stacked against ministry work.

I’ve also learned we must be willing to sacrifice and pay a price without any guarantees of success (however “success” is defined in your context).

In the 1932 classic titled Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, written by the famed missionary’s son and daughter-in-law, I came across the following passage:

“In these days of easy-going Christianity, is it now well to remind ourselves that it really does cost to be a man or woman whom God can use? One cannot obtain a Christlike character for nothing; one cannot do a Christlike work save at great price.”

Have you experienced the truth of this? We do a work for God and expect something in return, whether miraculous providence, abundant financial provision, or adoring appreciation from those we serve.

Sometimes, those never come. Or they may come and go.

As the passage above says, there is a cost to developing Christlike character—whether hardship, humbling, suffering or loss. In the same way, Christlike works and ministry dreams often require us to endure refining fires before a harvest comes in.

Jesus, of course, understands what it means to pay a price for the Kingdom. But the really good news for believers is that he promises to help us pay our own price from his glorious riches. All we have to do is ask!

Dreaming anew,