READ: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, AND HIS FRUIT WAS SWEET TO MY TASTE.
Song of Songs 2:3
A taster is often deceived because he has some knowledge and some experience. But there is much more. Tasters are filled with ignorance and pride.
In the same way, many lay pastors are deceived and proud because they have some knowledge and some limited experience in ministry. They have no idea of the extent of the work that goes on behind the scenes. In my ministry, there is endless work from morning till evening. All kinds of activities and all varieties of work go on every day to the point where people have to be compelled to take a day off.
Understanding that you are simply a taster will cause you to have the humility to seek to know more. I once spoke to a lay pastor who worked for the government. I asked him if he would be interested in working in the ministry. He answered, “If there is something to do then I will be ready to work for the Lord.” This was an unfortunate answer because it showed his ignorance about real ministry. He was a taster of the ministry who was being invited to be a partaker.
Today, there are many tasters out there who must face the fact that there is something higher, greater and deeper to partake of.
Bearing fruits in God, no matter how small, is sweet to the taste. But there is even more sweetness and joy when you are a partaker of the ministry.
There is great joy in serving God. Indeed, the joy that comes as you serve the Lord is something that is not easily explained. Many people who work as volunteers have the joy of the Lord as they serve Him. But there is a deeper joy in going all out and becoming an actual partaker of ministry.