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"...presenting everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil..."

I love Paul's passion for maturity. We must have this same passion in our ministries. But note his passion is not for the ACT of ministry, as it is for so many people today. "I love to preach," we often say. "My gift is to teach the word." "I'm called to intercession." "I feel compelled to evangelize." "I'm a servant - just behind the scenes."

No, Paul's passion doesn't point TO these acts. It's points THROUGH these acts. He readily and frequently admits his calling throughout his writings and his burden to preach, but more often he speaks of his primary passion - THE MATURITY OF BELIEVERS. He doesn't focus on his gifts or talents.

This is what ministry should be centered around. Paul told the Thessalonians that he boasted in their maturity. Contrary to many modern ministers, Paul never boasted in the numbers of people who made an apparent "first-time commitments" to Christ as a result of his preaching. He sought one primary goal - spiritual development. He lived for discipleship. The full development of Christians.