Living faithful, fruitful and fulfilled on the mission field
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Moses wrote of himself in the book of Numbers, “Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth.” Has that ever struck you as strange? Humility is not an unwillingness to acknowledge one’s strengths. It is knowing both positive and negative areas, being honest about them, relaxed in who you are, and able to continually learn from others.
Humble leaders don’t pretend they are more than they are. Nor do they pretend they are less. They are real, genuine, honest, and constantly learning from those around them.
Some years ago, Jim Collins wrote a best selling book called Good to Great. He did extensive research on the most successful companies in the world. What were the characteristics of the type of leaders who took their companies from good companies to great ones?
At the top of the list was humility. It’s not surprising that his findings aligned with scripture. Even in the business world, humility is a vital characteristic of effective leaders.
This is counter to our natural way of thinking. We think of power, decision-making ability, and charisma as important in a leader. We can think of strength as being much more important than humility. This, however, is not what enables us to be fruitful in Kingdom work.
The most fruitful leaders in missions, those whom God uses most greatly, are those who embrace a life of genuine humility.
I was taking a class at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. My professor was Sherwood Lingenfelter, the Provost of the seminary. A brilliant man, author of several insightful books, and holding many degrees, I was excited to hear him. Taking notes and listening carefully to his lectures, I gained much from his content.
What I remember most, however, was an incident when he displayed incredible humility. This aspect of his character affected me far more than what he taught us.
There was a student in class who disagreed strongly with what Professor Lingenfelter was teaching. As is sometimes the case, instead of respectfully asking questions, my classmate forcefully asserted his opinion.
The humility with which my professor responded surprised me. I had been living in Asia for many years now. What my classmate was doing was not at all appropriate in the context I had grown accustomed to. In Asia, a student must never contradict and argue with a professor. This is dishonoring and shameful.
Even in my Western context, it seemed inappropriate. “Who did this fellow student think they were talking to him like that?” I thought. I expected Professor Lingenfelter to put him in his place. In some ways, I wanted him to. This student’s pride needed to be taken down a knotch.
That did not happen. Instead, Lingenfelter listened carefully. He gave him space to fully share his thoughts. My professor took notes and asked him a clarifying question. He thanked him for sharing his viewpoint.
No reaction. No defensiveness. Openness, willingness to listen, and learn from his student. Wow. Humility was on grand display. I remember it like it was yesterday. Since that day, I’ve tried to follow my professor as he followed Christ. I continue to pray that I will be as humble and open to learning from those who disagree with me as he was that day. It is not easy. I’m still working on it.
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”
Philippians 2:5 NASB
Missionaries and ministers can unknowingly adopt a “Savior complex.” This is particularly an issue for short-term missionaries. Those who haven’t had the pain of cultural shock, language learning, and financial struggles take the edge off of pride. We go to the poor, the unreached, or whoever our mission is among, thinking we are there to “save them.” We have a message to teach these poor souls. Coming from a position of power, money, and knowledge, we try to “help.”
It smacks of colonialism and is the ugly side of short-term missions! Instead, we must go as learners. We go to listen, to observe, and to understand, before we bring our message. Humility demonstrates the gospel message more clearly than many of the things we do in His name.
Many are unwilling to invest a few hours to study, research, and learn about the people group they want to reach. We may have some short-lived impact. The humble worker who takes a posture of learning from the people will see the greatest long-term impact.
We can forget that the message we share includes a cross. Jesus experienced the shame of crucifixion. He humbled himself to the point of death. We too must share His message from a place of humility and great love.
When you enter into debate and argument with unbelievers, you have already lost. Instead, ask genuine questions. Try to understand the viewpoint of those you are sharing with. Why do they believe what they do? Hold their religious viewpoints in high esteem. These things are precious to them and not to be attacked.
We often allow our cultural biases to impact how we lead. In cross-cultural teams, the leader’s culture must not dominate. This takes intentionality. Is your culture time or event-oriented? Will you insist on team members arriving on time, because this is your cultural way of doing things? Do you elevate those who have the same cultural values and worldview as you do?
Humility allows others’ preferences to dominate, not one’s own.
This is tough. We tend to react when people disagree with us about something we are convinced of. Our insecurity and pride raise their ugly heads. Humility listens with an open heart. It seeks to understand and empathize with the person who disagrees.
Youthfulness carries a certain pride. Lack of experience and time to encounter failure can cause younger leaders to think they know better than older leaders around them. The same is true of those who are older. We can think we know far more than our younger colleagues. After all, we have been doing this work for far more years! New ideas are needed. Young leaders must be given space to contribute and innovate while showing humility and honor for those who have gone before them.
You have the right to humbly but firmly say no when healthy boundaries are crossed. We must learn to do this with grace. Humble leaders are not pushovers. Instead, they can set and defend healthy boundaries so their personal and family needs are protected.
Great leaders have strong opinions but they hold them with open hearts. They are willing to change their opinion if confronted with new information. They are not spineless, tossed to and fro by whoever they happen to be with. Instead, they form opinions, express them clearly, and adapt as they learn. It takes far greater humility to change your view and admit you were wrong, than to stick to your ill-informed viewpoint.
Self-deprecation (putting yourself down) is not humility. Sometimes we do that to seek out compliments from others. “I’m not very good at this,” we say. We hope someone present will disagree with us and tell us how talented we are. This is not humility but insecurity. Know your value. Don’t be afraid to walk in it with your head held high. You are a child of the King.
Humility transforms a good leader into a great leader, a fruitful person into someone who sees unparalleled growth through their work.
What biblical or current example of a humble leader has impacted you most?
I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook Group.
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Big dreams have big price tags! Or so they say. The loud voice in our heads tells us that if we want to do big things, we need to have a lot of money. Without money, we feel powerless. With money in our pocket (or bank account) we feel stronger. This is not the way God works…it’s not the way of the Kingdom. Yet this belief, that to do anything significant, we need a lot of money, often influences our thinking. It affects our actions.
We are strongly influenced by the world’s thinking about wealth. It is natural for us to believe that to do big things, we need big money. That is the way of the world, not the Kingdom of God. God delights in using the weak things (even those who are weak financially) to accomplish His incredible Kingdom purposes.
So often, we believe we need more money… when what we really need is already in our hands. When we offer to God what we possess, our loaves and fish, He multiplies it. In His hands, it is more than enough! Many times, the way God wants to work doesn’t require lots of money. It requires faith, obedience, and creativity.
Years ago, God spoke to me about something He wanted to do in Northeast India. God was wanting to release thousands of young people into missions among the unreached.
The Lord made His plan clear. We were to organize a large missions conference. God wanted us to invite thousands of youth from the Christian parts of Northeast India. It was in the Father’s heart to release many new workers into His harvest fields.
This was an exciting vision. I knew it was from the Lord. I also knew it could have a very big price tag.
As I made the tentative budget, it came to more than $40,000 US. I had absolutely zero in my hands at the time. I had never before raised that kind of money. The budget terrified me. How in the world would we be able to come up with that? Maybe it was too much for us.
It required a great deal of faith for me to even start down that path. I knew how weak I was financially and how many miracles God would have to do for this to be possible.
By God’s grace, together with my team, we chose to listen to the Word of the Lord to us. We looked to Him, not to ourselves and our own financial capacity. As we organized and worked toward this goal, God did indeed work miracles. He helped us find amazing deals where the things we purchased were a lot cheaper than normal! The Lord provided in so many unusual ways. During the conference itself, many Northeast Indian individuals and churches gave generously.
At the end of the conference, all our bills were paid and we had money left over! It was indeed a miracle. God had done something incredible through us, even though we had very little money.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Eph 3:20 NLT
While we must be realistic about money, we can not let it control us. God needs to be in charge, not our bank balance. Are we listening to Him or looking to ourselves and our own strength?
So often, God wants to teach us to think creatively. Many times, the solution is there… it’s just different than what we thought. For example, we may think that to reach an area, we need to hold a big, expensive evangelistic tent meeting. We dream of bringing in a big-name speaker to our area. Could God have a different way of accomplishing the same goal? Maybe He wants to work through local people, empowering them to reach their neighbors in simple ways that cost absolutely nothing!
If we are willing to work differently, to listen to God and seek His ways…His provision will always be there for us.
In what ways are you stuck in your thinking about money? Could there be a different way to accomplish the vision God’s given you? One that doesn’t require money?
I have lived and taught this principle again and again. If God has told you to do something, and you’ve had confirmation from your leaders, team, and others…that is what you must base your decisions on. Don’t look first to your bank account, look first to God. What has He clearly said you are to do?
That doesn’t mean we act foolishly or get ourselves into debt. We do take steps of faith and obedience to move ahead with what God has spoken to us.
We must actively resist the world’s mindset which says that wealth makes us powerful and capable. This is not true! God is the one who makes you strong and able to move forward. He is the One who fights for you and enables you. Money can be helpful, but in the Kingdom, it is not always necessary. In fact, sometimes the more money we have, the more headaches and difficulties we encounter!
Let God’s truth penetrate your spirit today. He has given you more than enough to do what He has called you to do. You already have enough, because He is with you. He is enough. God will provide. He will make a way.
Say it out loud with me. “I have more than enough money to do what God wants me to do!” You don’t have to be rich, to be effective in the Kingdom of God. In fact, your lack of money may drive you to do things in a more effective way. Your weakness can become a great strength. Amen?
God has great things ahead for you. He longs to do the impossible through you! When the vision is from God, you can be sure that He will bring it to pass…He will provide all that is needed.
On June 12th and 13th, I am offering a free live training called How to Have a Massive Kingdom Impact: Even if You Are Not Rich, Famous or Super-Talented. Check it out and register here. I’d love to share more with you live and in person via this online training (webinar)! Over and over I have seen God do amazing things through people who didn’t have huge access to financial resources. Join me and let’s learn more about this together!
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Do you know how much money you need each month, and what you spend most of your money on?
If you answered no to any of the above questions, you probably don’t have a working plan for finances. This is part of our discipleship, growth, and is important to live a faithful, fruitful, and effective life as a missionary.
Some of us treat money like water. When we have it we turn on the tap. It runs through our fingers and is gone. Then, if there is a “water cut” we are helpless and unprepared. We struggle to meet basic needs.
This attitude can come from a misinterpretation of Scripture.
In the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7), Jesus talks about finances. He says “Do not worry… Do not be like the pagans chasing after food and clothes… Do not love money or have a divided heart.”
This makes some people think that money is not spiritual and we should not think about or plan our finances. That is not what Jesus is saying. The focus is: do not be consumed by money or enslaved to it.
When you were a child living at home, did you used to worry if there would be food to eat? Or did you show up at dinner expecting to be fed? If our parents were able to provide for us, we grew up not even thinking about money. We trusted that we would be taken care of.
As you grew and became an adult, did you still behave like a child? Did your parents expect you to contribute to the financial running of the household? As you grew, did they start to share with you about finances? Or teach you about how to budget, save, and plan your spending? Perhaps you got a job, or earned some money and started to buy things yourself.
If your parents taught you about money, you have learned essential lessons. If not, then your Heavenly Father wants to teach you about finances now.
It is not too late! He wants to free you from worry, lack, and distress over your financial situation. When we feel stressed, we often want to avoid the stressor. We try to ignore it, saying, “No worries, God will provide”, but we live from one crisis to another.
“Isn’t it unspiritual to plan and manage money?” you might wonder. “Isn’t that the opposite of living by faith?“
No. God operates through what He has created. There are measured seasons, times of rain and dry, seasons of growth, fruit, and barrenness. Times of plenty and lack. Creatures learn in the created order to plan and respond to their available resources.
In Proverbs six, we are commanded to observe the ant.
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
Prov 6:6-9
The first step to financial freedom is changing our beliefs about money and our role as stewards.
In a previous article, we discussed the importance of trusting God. Now we must look at partnering with God to be good stewards.
Let me share a recent story of planning and managing finances. In 2019, God was speaking to my husband and me about a new regenerative farming vision. In 2020, we started preparing, and in 2021 we started the ministry. We knew we would need a lot of money to begin, and keep it running. How did we get the money to make it a reality?
This has been our financial planning process:
As you look at this list of activities, what are you doing to plan for your personal and ministry finances? The same principles apply in both areas.
What do you need to strengthen? Where could you begin to improve?
Let us know in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook Group.
Sometimes finances and financial planning can feel like a huge mountain in front of us. Take one obedient step at a time, and you will succeed.
*This article was written by a guest contributor- R.M.
We have been working to create a relevant online course on fundraising and money management. It is particularly designed for missionaries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We hope to make this course available in the near future. Sign up below if you are interested.
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