On Being a Servant of God – A Book Review

On Being a Servant of God is a book written by Warren Wiersbe.  Mr. Wiersbe has been in the ministry for over 30 years, and he writes this book as a means of sharing “what I wish I had known.”  It consists of 30 short “armchair chats,” where he shares his perspective on issues we all face serving God–tough situations, tough people, the desire to run away, being misunderstood, being unappreciated. This book is not directed only to pastors and those in full-time ministry, but to anyone who serves in the church.  Most will relate to the issues discussed in this gem of a book.

Wiersbe defines ministry as taking place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.  He discusses these four elements in ministry–divine resources, human needs, loving channels and the glory of God.  He reminds us that the love we need for ministry is something that only God can provide.  He says that our “Christian service is supposed to make us grow and it will if we’re in the right place with the right attitude.  He suggests that God allows problem people in our lives so that we will have the opportunity to develop spiritual maturity.  He says that our Christian service “is supposed to make us grow and it will if we’re in the right place with the right attitude.”

Wiersbe touches on sensitive issues like knowing when and how to close a ministry and move on, being misunderstood and under-appreciated, how to learn from our failures and families in the ministry.  He discusses the joys of Christian service, standing against the enemy’s tactics, loyalty and humility in the ministry, dealing with discouragement and disappointment, dealing with those bad days in the ministry, dealing with enemies and unjust accusations, and money issues and stewardship in the ministry.  The subject of disagreements among servants in the church was one of the most applicable of his “chats” as he discussed what we can compromise (our right to be right all the time) and what we can’t compromise (fundamental doctrine).

What may seem like a mishmash of miscellaneous topics relating to ministry actually comes across as wise fatherly advice, backed up by scripture,  shared by one who has had years of experience in the ministry.  I would highly recommend this book to those who are serving within their church.