Just in case you don’t have a lot of time and are just speed reading through this blog post to find the answer to my luring title, I’ll tell you right here. The way to absolutely fail as a missionary is to do God’s work without God’s heart.
Let’s break it down.
God gives you His heart for the world. But it’s not a one-time event. 2 Cor 4:16 talks about how we are to be renewed on the inside day by day. Romans 12 says that we need a daily refreshing of our minds.
Unfortunately what happens many times to Christians is that the fire that motivated them to get involved in ministry in the first place grows cold. This leaves them in a miserable situation. It leaves them continuing to show up at their churches, youth groups, and soup kitchens without the Father’s heart.
You’ve probably seen this before, or it may have happened to you. People who are heavily involved in ministry but whose hearts no longer feel that passion get cranky, bossy, self righteous, and miserable.
A perfect example of this is Jonah. Jonah gets projectile vomited by a whale (I know, it could have been a big fish all you old testament scholars) and in joy of his newfound salvation rededicates his life to God and decides that maybe he will obey him after all.
Then Jonah, the very worst missionary, goes and does exactly what God tells him to do while completely missing the point in the process. The exchange goes something like this.
God: Jonah, I have sent my Son Jesus to save the world from their sin. My Son gives life to whoever He wants. Those who listen to his message and believe will have eternal life. Those who reject him will be rejected.
Jonah: Ok cool. So I go tell people to believe in you or burn in hell forever.
God: You have missed the point
Jonah: I’m ready. Send me out Lord.
Jonah actually did what God said, but with the wrong heart. A sage piece of advice comes from one of my favorite films: The Mouse and the Motorcycle. “You did what I said, but I didn’t say to do what you did” and so it was with Jonah.
Something must have got lost in translation because when Ninevah actually repents Jonah turns into the pissed-off prophet. This is the classic example of a man in ministry whose heart does not mirror the Lord’s. “I knew you would do this God. I knew you would be merciful and loving. You always do this!”
So in short, the best way to completely fail as a missionary is to try to work for God but completely miss God’s heart. Way better to just stay home.
The practical application of this is that intimacy with the Father should take priority over busyness, ministry, and programs. Too many people are planning long trips with empty gas tanks because they think it is too much of a bother to stop by the gas station. No God is not a gas station. Yes, it is important to make time to rest in him daily.
Blessings.
