The Three C's of Ministry: Understanding Your Divine Purpose

In the realm of ministry, three fundamental elements form the cornerstone of authentic service to God: the Cause, the Cost, and the Call. These three C's are not merely theoretical concepts but vital principles demonstrated throughout Scripture by those who answered God's call to service. Understanding these elements helps us recognize and fulfill our divine purpose with clarity and conviction.

The Cause: A Divine Burden in Your Heart
"Is there not a cause?" These powerful words from David (1 Samuel 17:29) echo through the ages, reminding us that every genuine ministry begins with a God-given cause—a burning burden placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This cause becomes the driving force that propels us forward in service to God and His kingdom.

Biblical Examples of The Cause:

David's Burden for God's Honor
David's confrontation with Goliath wasn't merely about facing a giant but defending God's honor. When he heard Goliath defying the armies of the living God, a holy indignation rose within him. His cause was clear: "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26)

Nehemiah's Burden for Jerusalem
When Nehemiah heard about the broken walls of Jerusalem, he wept, fasted, and prayed. His burden for the city's restoration was so intense that it showed in his countenance before the king (Nehemiah 1:4, 2:2). This caused him to leave his prestigious position to rebuild Jerusalem's walls.

Esther's Burden for Her People
When faced with the potential genocide of her people, Esther embraced the cause of their deliverance, recognizing that she had "come to the kingdom for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).

The Cost: Counting the Price of Ministry
Jesus explicitly taught about counting the cost, emphasizing that following Him requires careful consideration of what we must sacrifice. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?" (Luke 14:28)

The Nature of the Cost:

Personal Comfort and Security
Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Matthew 8:20). Ministry often requires sacrificing personal comfort and security.

Relationships and Social Standing
Paul wrote about counting all things as loss for Christ (Philippians 3:8). This often included sacrificing social status and relationships for the sake of the gospel.

Time and Resources
The early apostles understood this cost, leaving their occupations to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22). Ministry demands our time, energy, and resources.

Biblical Examples of Counting the Cost:

Moses' Choice
Moses chose to suffer affliction with God's people rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin in Egypt. "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (Hebrews 11:26).

Paul's Sacrifice
Paul detailed the cost he paid for ministry: beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, and constant danger (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Yet he considered these troubles light compared to the glory of serving Christ.

Abraham's Offering
Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac demonstrated the ultimate cost—surrendering what we hold most dear when God requires it (Genesis 22).

The Call: God's Sustaining Power
The divine call is what sustains us through the challenges of ministry. Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). This call becomes our anchor in difficult times.

Characteristics of God's Call:

It's Irrevocable
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29). When God calls, He doesn't change His mind.

It's Empowering
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

It's Purpose-Driven
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Biblical Examples of The Call:

Jeremiah's Call
God called Jeremiah before his birth: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5).

Paul's Damascus Road Experience
Paul's dramatic call demonstrated God's sovereign choice in selecting His servants (Acts 9). This call sustained him through numerous trials and persecution.

Samuel's Early Call
God's call to young Samuel shows that age is no barrier to divine service (1 Samuel 3). His faithful response, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears," models the proper attitude toward God's call.

The Interconnection of the Three C's
These three elements—Cause, Cost, and Call—work together in perfect harmony in effective ministry:

The Cause Creates the Vision
The burden God places in our hearts shapes our vision for ministry and gives us direction.

The Cost Ensures Commitment
Understanding and accepting the cost deepens our commitment and prevents casual involvement in God's work.

The Call Provides Sustenance
God's call keeps us faithful when the burden feels heavy and the cost seems too high.

Ministry that truly impacts lives and advances God's kingdom must incorporate all three C's. The Cause gives us passion and purpose, the Cost reminds us of the seriousness of our commitment, and the Call assures us of God's faithfulness to complete what He has begun in us.

Jesus exemplified all three perfectly:

His Cause was the redemption of humanity
His Cost was the cross
His Call was from the Father

As we pursue ministry, we must regularly examine these three elements in our lives. Are we driven by a God-given cause? Have we truly counted and accepted the cost? Are we responding faithfully to God's call? When these three align, we can serve with confidence, knowing we are walking in God's perfect will for our lives.

Remember, true ministry isn't about our abilities or desires but about God's purpose working through yielded vessels. As Paul testified, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19). May we likewise be found faithful to the Cause, accepting of the Cost, and obedient to the Call.