This week we have been enjoying the teaching of Pastor Kim Kira from Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, California. Kim is not only a church-planter & pastor, but he is also a skilled biblical counselor. The conference he is leading is called “God-Centered Counseling: Where the Eternal Gospel Meets Everyday Life.” On Tuesday morning he met with some local pastors and men in the church to help us in our counseling ministry. He gave us eight reasons to persevere in counseling people, even when it would be easy to quit. I would like to relay those reasons to you, because if you are a Christian you also have the same reasons to persevere in giving your friends Gospel hope. So here you go.
Eight Reasons to Persevere in Counseling People:
1. You need the same change that you’re trying to effect in others. Because you are tainted with sin and in need of the Savior, counseling others gives you a lens into your own life and your own need.
2. Suffering must be part of your ministry. The Lord has promised that you will suffer as you live for His glory in this world. When counseling gets tough and discouraging, remember that your Savior can strengthen you for the task. And remembers that the Savior’s suffering makes your suffering valuable.
3. If they don’t receive biblical counsel from you, they’ll get something else somewhere else. There are so few Christians who are ready and willing to offer hope from the Scriptures, if you don’t persevere in the ministry then people will go to other sources for counsel. And many times those sources fall short of good, godly, Gospel-centered, transformational counseling.
4. In loving the least you are loving Christ. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells us that when we love the down-and-out we are actually loving Him! Perseverance in counseling people demonstrates your love for Jesus.
5. You understand God’s economy of faithfulness.
6. You want faithfulness more than you want fruitfulness. In counseling people toward hope in the Gospel, you shouldn’t base your success on fruitfulness but faithfulness. God is greatly honored by consistently pouring your life out for the advancement of the Gospel in people’s lives. Faithfulness is the barometer of your success.
7. You are living THIS day in light of THAT day. So often we get discouraged from serving the Lord and serving others (in counseling) when we lose sight of eternity. But when we have a vision of the glory of the Lord and an eternity of worshiping Him, we will gladly love others and counsel them with Gospel hope.
8. God has given you the same sustaining Gospel that you’re giving to others. Remember that what other people need is the same thing you need: the Gospel! It is so easy to offer simple anecdotes and behavior modification advice, but the only thing that will change people’s lives is what has changed your life à the message of the cross.
If you are a Christian who has experienced discouragement in counseling, join the long line of others just like you. But stick with it, because God has graced you with the privilege of being His choice servant and minister of reconciliation in the precious lives of people around you.
by Ryan Limbaugh