The Value of One

-

Never Devalue the Value of One

Matthew 18:12-14

“So it is not the will of our father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.”

 

            For those involved in ministry, whether a pastor or a Sunday School teacher, it is easy to get discouraged when we do not see visible, outward results.  This is especially true in the small church.  We see the growth of other churches; we hear of the dramatic effects that others achieve and become discouraged because we do not see those same results.  We would like to be the one others talk about for our dramatic results.  Thus, we struggle with the question, “Is my ministry valuable when just a few are influenced by the gospel?”

            In this parable, Jesus compares his attitude to that of a shepherd.  In the story, one of his sheep has gone astray.  Instead of worrying about the ninety-nine sheep and their safety, he immediately searches for the one that is lost.  What is remarkable about the story is that the flock is still on the mountain, presumably far from the safety of the sheep-fold.  For the shepherd to leave the ninety-nine implies some level of risk. However, the focus is not on the flock but the missing one.  He is prepared to leave the rest of the flock at some risk to find the missing one. When he finds the missing one, he rejoices over it even more than the other ninety-nine.  This does not mean he does not care about the rest of the flock. Indeed, he does. The point is that the one individual sheep is equally essential as the whole flock.

Christ is making a point that his concern for people is not for the masses but for the individual.  God is not playing a numbers game. Instead, he is focused on each individual needing salvation.  God values individuals so that each person is of infinite worth to God.  Peter points this out when he states that God desires no one to perish and God does not take pleasure in the judgment of sinners (2 Peter 3:9).  So also God says in Ezekiel 33:11, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.”  God is a holy God who will judge sin and will judge those who reject his offer of salvation.  However, that is not his delight; his delight is when people accept his grace and embrace the salvation he offers.

This story provides us with an important lesson regarding our ministry.  It is not the size of our ministry, or even the numbers reached with it that determines God’s approval.  What matters is now how many, but who.  If all we do is reach one person with the gospel and bring them into God’s kingdom, God rejoices with the same joy as he would if we thousands.  For each person transformed by the gospel, the heaven breaks out into a celebrative shout of joy.  Jesus states in Luke 15:10, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  If all we do is reach one person with the gospel through our ministry, for that one person and our God, our ministry has infinite and eternal value, and God himself shouts for joy.  It is easy to get discouraged when the numbers are few.  It is easy to question the value of our ministry when only a few people respond. However, numbers are not important to God.  Individuals are essential to him. It does not matter if we have 100 kids coming to the Awana program or 10.  The question is not the number of children who attend, but individuals reached with the gospel.  If we only see one child come to Christ due to our ministry,  our ministry is still worth it and a success.   This story reminds us that we should never devalue the value of one.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A New Way of Life

-
A New Way of Life Hebrews 10:19-25 “Therefore, brethren, since we have the confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”                   The book of Hebrews is centered on the redemptive work of Christ and how His sacrifice is sufficient for paying the penalty of our sins so that we now have free access to God.   By comparing the Old Testament sacrificial system and the sacrifice on the day of atonement with the sacrifice of Christ, the writer points out that the Old Testament sacrificial system and the Day of the Atonement provided only temporary and partial forgiveness for our sins.  Every year, the High Priest would take the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement and enter into the Holy of...
Read more

The Past, The Present, and The Future

-
The Past, Present, and Future 1 Peter 1:1-9 “In this, you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.”                   As we spend time with family and friends celebrating Thanksgiving this week, we think about the positive events and circumstances that give us a reason to be thankful.  We rightfully focus on our family and health and the blessings we enjoy. While we give thanks for these during this week, for the rest of the year, we wrestle with discouragement and dissatisfaction as we deal with the struggles and realities of life.  How do we find joy and satisfaction in the present when experiencing life's trials and problems?                   In verse 6, Peter commends and encourages his readers to “greatly rejoice” ...
Read more

Holiness as a way of life.

-
The Purpose of Salvation: A Call to a Holy Life 1 Peter 1:13-16 “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”                   Of all the attributes of God, holiness is the one quality that encompasses the totality of the character of God. While other attributes, such as His love and mercy,  describe aspects of His character, holiness describes who he is in all his multifaceted glory.  In the throne room of heaven, the angels continually sing an anthem of praise to the holiness of God. In Isaiah 6, we find the prophet Isaiah transported into the throne room of heaven where God is sitting on the throne, and the seraphim continually encircles God, proclaiming the praise of His holiness (Isaiah 6:1-13).  In the Book of Revelation, John likewise is given a vision of the throne room in which the same message is continually proclaimed...
Read more