In everything there is a test. If a person can mourn over themselves—namely, over their existence that does not conform to God’s will—then he can also mourn and weep for others. We cannot mourn and weep for others if we have not first mourned over ourselves. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” How can we love others if we have not loved ourselves correctly? First, lament your sins. As Isaiah 6:4–7 says, “I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.” Recognize our uncleanness first; only after that do we carry a burden for others. In the end, in verse 8, Isaiah says, “Here I am, Lord; send me.”
In church ministry, if we are only good at preaching, being activists, or doing technical tasks without having a burden for the suffering of others—their condition that can lead to destruction—then we do not have the right burden. We can understand why we might have preached well yet could not change others: we ourselves had not changed. Know yourself until your preaching becomes sharp—not just sharp theologically or logically, but also touching the heart. Our experiences then contextualize others’ experiences. That is what will touch parts that many do not touch. We must all learn first before we can teach. And to lead, we must commit to everything.
The Apostle Paul was processed for so long that he could feel sorrow over God’s church that did not live according to His will. In 2 Corinthians 12:21, Paul writes with tears for the church in Corinth so that they would live in accordance with God’s will. He wrote with tears because he had mourned over himself, had tried to live righteously; therefore, he wept over the condition of others. One cannot mourn others’ condition if he has not mourned his own. That is what Jesus said to the women of Jerusalem who were weeping for Him: “Do not weep for me; weep for yourselves.”
Thus, it can be concluded that a person who has not mourned over himself for continuous self-correction to become more pleasing to the Lord cannot yet carry a burden for his fellow human beings. Do not merely have religious sentiment or loyalty to Christianity or a particular church, but have a burden for the condition of our neighbors. Ministry must begin with oneself. This does not mean an egoistic or natural self-love. Our nature is corrupted so that self-love often becomes selfishness. The love meant here is God’s love. We must first understand how to love ourselves correctly; only then can we love others correctly.
Therefore, ministry does not start with theological school or cleverness, but from a person who is aware of a burden and understands how hard it is to be righteous; without earnestness toward perfection, we will not have a burden to serve God’s work. Carry that burden by correcting yourself. If God’s servants begin from their personal struggle to correct themselves, the church will become strong. Not only skilled at organizing or raising funds, but they also have a heart and burden for others. Therefore, have a heart for yourself first, mourn over yourself, and only then can you mourn for others.
Ministry with the right burden is not merely about gathering crowds or having a large, beautiful church building. What’s the point of all that? The church is not a business to make money, but is concerned with the salvation of eternal souls. God promises comfort to those who experience such sorrow. If we have sorrow because of God’s will, then first, God will correct us to be more perfected and more hopeful that we can be perfected. Second, we will have a sincere burden for others. Third, we will be comforted. Such a person cannot help but sacrifice for the Lord. He will give anything for the salvation of others. His heart becomes compassionate and cannot close its eyes to others’ suffering. The salvation of souls is very precious. And it turns out that when we are willing to carry that burden, we do not become poor; God continues to bless us.