I Can't get No....Satisfaction (Nathan McWherter)

Andy Stanley (I know, not more Andy Stanley) has a great talk about appetites. He says that appetites are created by God and they are never satisfied in the world…especially ministry. Many people operate however as if there is an end to our striving i.e. If my ministry is large enough, or if I have a bigger impact, or if I write a book, then it will be enough. We think that there is an end to our leadership. That our appetites will be satisfied is however, a misconception. We will never be satisfied even if we achieve the highest goal. Our appetites drive us forward and always say “now”, never later. We chase this goal this ‘end’ but we never arrive. We push and push and push but it only creates friction in our ministries and dissatisfaction in the long run.

Managing the tension or responding to that voice saying “now” determines the direction of you family, profession, and life. I think that this is so true. I think that in ministry we have a chance to arrive at satisfaction. That somehow we, since we work for the J-man, can achieve this all satisfying end. I believe this leads to dissatisfaction in leadership, not because we try to achieve or press on towards a goal, but because we think that the end will be all satisfying. What then is the balance? I think that we will always be in tension with what is achieved in our ministry, and our desires until Jesus returns: recognizing where we are might help.