As Christians, one of the most significant calls on our lives is to join God in the work that he is doing in the world. It takes immense faith to join God in his work because much of it goes unseen by us. 

Success and tangible outcomes drive American culture. I would even assert we idolize the ideas of success and tangible outcomes. I don’t deny their usefulness, as they can be very useful in helping us see what we are doing right or showing us where to make changes. These elements can also be discouraging when we don’t see the outcomes we want, particularly when outcomes do not align with effort. Idolizing these hinders us from joining God in the work he is doing in the world because our focus shifts from him onto having something to show for our work. We can get caught up in things like:

• Church growth numbers

• Conversations with “non-believers,” including a full gospel presentation

• Fundraising and contributions

• Excellent ministries for children, teens, women, men, etc.

• Powerful sermons

• Perfect buildings

• And the pinnacle: the number of salvations 

However, tangible outcomes are not the way we measure things in God’s kingdom. I am not asserting we should discount tangible outcomes altogether but rather that we should view them more often than not as gifts from God. They are something we get to witness and be a part of, not because we deserve to see an outcome, but because God, in his goodness, invites us to witness and participate in His work and glory. It is a gift when we get to see and experience:

• Church growth

• Fruitful conversations with “non-believers”

• Abundance of giving

• Thriving ministries

• Sermons that move hearts

• Buildings that provide a grounded place for a church body

• And, of course, people giving their lives to Christ

What would happen if you started to see tangible outcomes not as a measurement of your labors but as a gift from God? How would that change the way you do ministry? Would it take the load off your shoulders? Would you delight in and praise God more when you see incredible outcomes?

The reality is that when we are faithful to God, he produces the good fruit. When we listen to his voice and are guided by him, his will is being done. We may not always see the fruit of what we have done, but we can rest easy in the knowledge that tangible outcomes are God’s business, and our business is to faithfully follow him, whatever he asks us to do. And then, one day, when we get to heaven, hopefully we get to see the full fruit of our faithfulness and God’s goodness: 

• That church you planted that saw such little growth, guess what? After you left, many people came to Christ there and are now with you in heaven.

• That caring conversation you had with a friend that was wrapped in God’s love and not a gospel presentation, that is what drew them to Christ. 

We are not responsible for any spiritual outcome from our labors—that lies with God alone. We are called to serve Him, and he multiplies those efforts beyond anything we could have ever imagined. That is the abundance characteristic of God’s kingdom. 

I will leave you with this encouragement: God is pleased with your faithfulness, not a human-perceived outcome. Do not sit in guilt or shame when you feel you don’t measure up, particularly when the outcome does not equate to the work you put forward. God is the one who is at work, and he is working and moving in ways we cannot see. He is taking our faithfulness and multiplying it beyond our human perception. My brothers and sisters, take delight in the fact that you get to join God in the work he is doing in this world, and one day, when this life is over, you will get to join him in eternal life, and you’ll see and celebrate how God used the fruits of your labor for His glory.