Serving from the Life of Christ: A Letter to a Fellow Brother

“True ministry flows from abiding in Christ, not striving in our own strength.”

Some of the most well-intentioned efforts in ministry can be the most exhausting, and even the most misguided. I recently had a conversation with an older brother in Christ who has given much of his time and energy to helping those in need. His passion is evident—he sees himself as a missionary in his own community, reaching out to those struggling with difficult life circumstances. His heart is to demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways, assisting those who are physically or financially disadvantaged.

At first glance, this seems noble, even biblical. Isn’t James clear when he exhorts us to care for widows and orphans (James 1:27)? Didn’t Jesus Himself model a life of compassionate service? These are the questions that drive many well-meaning believers into works-based ministry—ministries that, though done in Jesus’ name, can become exhausting, frustrating, and even counterproductive when the source of the work is not Christ Himself but one’s own self-effort.

During our conversation, this brother recounted an ongoing project—a long-term commitment to assisting a handicapped man in selling his home and managing his living situation. His church has committed to helping this individual over a period of a year and a half, providing financial support and labor to improve his home. His wife, however, sees things differently. She is concerned that her husband’s time and energy are being poured into something that might not truly help this man in the long run, and she’s troubled that their own home could suffer consequences, such as the potential spread of bedbugs from the unhealthy living situation he’s walking into. She also wonders—perhaps even more significantly—whether all this effort is truly making a spiritual difference in the man’s life.

Her discernment struck me. She saw the issue clearly: is this about genuine transformation in Christ, or is this just another well-intended act of Christian charity that, in the end, may enable someone to continue making poor decisions?

As I listened, my heart was stirred. This brother was sacrificing time, energy, and even peace in his home in pursuit of what he saw as faithful ministry. But was it? I felt compelled to write to him.

A Letter to a Brother in Christ

My dear brother,

I want to first express my admiration for your heart for those in need. You are willing to give your time and effort, even sacrificing your own comforts, for the sake of another. That is rare in this world. Your love for others is evident.

But I want to gently challenge you with something that has changed the way I see ministry: What if the greatest act of love is not fixing someone’s external problems, but leading them to Jesus as their true Source?

We both know that James speaks of faith without works being dead (James 2:17), and Jesus certainly met tangible needs when He walked the earth. But we must ask ourselves—were His works done as an effort to demonstrate His goodness to the world, or were they the natural outflow of His oneness with the Father? There’s a difference. When Jesus healed the sick, fed the multitudes, or reached out to the broken, He wasn’t doing it to prove anything or to make a name for Himself. He was simply abiding in the Father, and out of that intimate union, the works naturally followed.

Brother, I say this in love—ministry that comes from self-effort, even when done in Jesus’ name, will wear you down. If the work is Christ’s, then it is His burden to carry, His results to orchestrate, and His strength that sustains. But if the work is something we take on ourselves—something we initiate, strategize, and execute in our own strength—then we are the ones bearing the weight of it. And we will find that the burden is heavy indeed.

I know your desire is to show the love of Christ. But I wonder—is the Holy Spirit truly leading this effort, or is it driven by a sense of duty, or even a need to see visible results? It is a good and right thing to care for others, but not at the expense of leading them into continued dependence on people instead of Christ.

In the case of this handicapped man, what will truly help him? Will fixing his home and rearranging his finances address the deeper issue of his dependence on others to sustain his life? What if the most loving thing is not providing external solutions but introducing him to the One who is Life itself? If this man does not learn to depend on Christ, his needs will never truly end. He will always be looking for another person to help, another financial rescue, another safety net. But Christ is his true provision. Helping him see that reality is the greatest act of love you can offer.

Your wife’s discernment is also something to consider. God has given you a partner in this life, and her concerns are valid. When ministry becomes a source of contention within a marriage, it’s worth stepping back and asking: Is this truly what God has called me to, or am I placing ministry above my primary call to honor and love my wife? Your faithfulness to her is a ministry in itself, and her wisdom should not be overlooked.

Brother, I share all of this not to criticize, but because I have been where you are. I, too, have tried to prove my faith through works, thinking that visible fruit was the measure of my effectiveness for Christ. But the Lord gently led me to a different way—the way of abiding. When we rest in Christ and allow His life to flow through us, ministry ceases to be a burden we carry. It becomes His work, done in His strength, for His glory.

So I encourage you to ask the Lord—Is this truly Your work, Lord, or is this something I have taken upon myself?And if it is from Him, then trust Him to sustain it in His own way, without striving, without burden, and without the need for visible results.

If this man truly meets Christ—if he exchanges his self-life for Christ’s life—he will be changed from the inside out. And that transformation will be greater than any financial relief or home renovation ever could be.

Brother, I pray you find peace in Christ’s sufficiency and rest in the knowledge that true ministry is not about what we do for Him, but what He does through us. He is more than capable.

With love and grace,
Believing Thomas

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that Christians are called to serve others, but the question remains: Are we serving in our own strength, or are we abiding in Christ and allowing His life to flow through us? Are we simply fixing external problems, or are we ministering in a way that leads others to find their sufficiency in Christ alone?

True ministry doesn’t come from striving, from proving, or from doing. It comes from being—being one with Christ, and allowing His love, wisdom, and provision to flow through us in His perfect way and time.

May we all learn to minister not from our own self-effort, but from the life of Christ within us.

Intent of Image:

• A quiet bench in a garden or a peaceful countryside scene—something that represents rest and abiding.