"The son of Hagar, the slave-wife, was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise" (Gal 4:23 NLT).

We are often tempted to follow the same pattern in our ministry: to bring about God’s will and purpose in our own way and in our own strength, according to our own timetable, instead of in God’s way and in God’s strength, according to God’s timetable. Much ministry in the North American church today falls into this category. Rooted in our religious self-determination, done in the power of the flesh, it is a human attempt to accomplish God’s will and is descended, therefore, from Ishmael, not Isaac.

Unfortunately, our congregations and even our ecclesiastical superiors often encourage us and reward us for doing it that way. "Be productive," they urge us. "Make it happen." But there is a world of difference between being productive and being fruitful, between striving to build Christ’s church and allowing Christ to build his church through you."