What is your favorite show? I am sure that, like me, you wait every week for the next episode to air. The day arrives, the hour comes, you lock the door, turn off your phone, get your favorite snack...you get everything ready only to turn on the TV and find that your show is not in the assigned slot of the schedule. It’s been delayed, or worse, postponed until next week because something “more important” has been assigned to its slot.
We each have a God-assigned sphere of influence. A slot, if you will, of ministry from God. Consider Paul’s words: “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.” (emphasis mine, 2 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)
For the sake of clarity, consider these other translations of verse 13:
NIV: We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.
THE MESSAGE: We aren’t making outrageous claims here. We’re sticking to the limits of what God has set for us. But there can be no question that those limits reach to and include you.
NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION: We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you.
THE LIVING TRANSLATION: We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.
A sphere of service. Limits set by God for us. A field of service. An area of authority.A sphere of influence.
BOUNDARIES
It’s crucial that, first and foremost, we see and understand that our God-assigned sphere of influence is fixed by God. It has boundaries. In other words, your ministry and my ministry are not without limits but have pre-determined parameters established by God.
Psalm 74:17 says, “You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.” God has created, established and fixed every boundary of the earth and season upon the earth. Seasons may begin earlier or end later than expected, but they have an established beginning and end.
Acts 17:26 says, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place...” God has purposefully chosen and precisely placed each of us upon the earth. Where you are living is no accident. Furthermore, God has determined and given you and I an exact and allotted amount of time. We will not live one day more nor less that what has been given to us by God.
God has boundaries for seasons and lives and, according to Paul (2 Corinthians 10:12-16), God also has boundaries for ministries.
This may or may not be welcomed by many of us, depending upon how we feel about ourselves, our “potential”, and our calling to ministry. We tend to think highly of ourselves and, in particular, concerning “our” ministry, we tend to believe we’re unstoppable in our zeal and passion to accomplish all that is in our hearts for God. True as that may be, it is good to be reminded that I am ONLY called, yet FULLY equipped and empowered, to fulfill the ministry given to me by Jesus, the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18). And for simplicity’s sake, let’s define ministry as serving the church God has placed me in and reaching the lost God has placed within my sphere of influence, as small or as big as it might be.
But when I forget that God has established boundaries to my ministry, some of the dangers I may face include:
COMPARISON
When I feel that my ministry is either bigger or smaller than another’s, I begin to compare myself, either elevating myself in importance and position or despising myself in discouragement and passivity. We each have a ministry. Each sphere of service, field of labor, limit of reach will look different than another’s. This is by God’s design. To grade ourselves or others on the “success” or “failure” of our own spiritual walk and ministry will only serve to ensure that we will not faithfully serve Jesus in the ministry He has assigned to us.
Similarly, to view other Christians or churches with a competitive eye is prideful. There can be no such thing as the “best” church in town or the “best” Christian in the church. There can only be those churches and Christians who are faithfully serving within their God-assigned spheres of influence.
BOASTING BEYOND
Paul states in this passage that he cannot and will not boast beyond his sphere of influence. Quite simply, Paul refuses to take credit for what God is doing in another’s sphere of influence. And Paul will not be jealous of what is happening in another sphere. To support and encourage one another in ministry is essential. But we must give honor where honor is due. None of us as ministers are God’s only choice. And none of our churches are God’s only church. He is using and empowering others and building and blessing other churches and we should rejoice in what God is doing here, there and everywhere.
OVEREXTENSION
Paul was very careful to identify his God-assigned area of service and ministry and to stay within those limits. He was not interested in overextending himself into an area God had assigned to another. Likewise, he was careful to protect the sphere God assigned to him, not in a selfish or immature way, but in a fatherly, shepherd-like way.
Without question there are those self-called, self-appointed and self-made who feel they have the right to enter into a sphere not assigned to them and to demand audience, to impose counsel, to force change - in essence to undo everything other ministers, other churches and Christians have labored faithfully to accomplish and build, all in the name of “ministry” or “the kingdom of God”. But we would do well to remember the following: In ministry, God calls you, but people invite you. We can't use our "calling" to invite ourselves in.
As individuals, we do this all too often. We take our God-given desires and passions and use them as a license and permission to speak into spheres we have no business in. It is ministry-meddling. What we fail to understand or regretfully ignore, is that ministry is not simply about making yourself known. It’s about making yourself available. The context of a God-assigned sphere of influence is critical to the successful operating within and reaching of the boundaries God has fixed. When I fail to take into consideration your relationship, investment, sacrifice - your ministry - into someone’s life, and overextend myself into your sphere, I not only hurt myself, but hurt others, and I not only slow my own growth, but also the growth of others. I am not called to reach everyone. You are not called to reach everyone. We are each called to reach particular people within our particular God-assigned spheres of influence.
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