I was privileged to pastor my campus fellowship during my undergraduate days. We hosted different ministers during our special programs in the fellowship. That year, we hosted one of the senior leaders of a major denomination in our country, all the way from Lagos. He came along with his wife, travelling several hours. They were lodged in the best hotel around us at that time and were well taken care of. We also gave him a huge honorarium. We were year two students at the time.
His parting remarks humbled us; “The honorarium you gave me as well as the executive treat I had here are top-notch. I don’t usually get this when I minister in some big churches with lots of worshippers in Lagos. I am very sure you have a future in ministry and in your respective callings.” That remark has not left me after about 17 years.
Friend, you need to understand God’s reward system if you would not struggle through life and shortchange yourself in destiny. One of the agents in God’s reward system are ministers of the gospel. Ministers of the gospel are carriers of reward (Matthew 10:40-41). If you are privileged to receive any of such, know that you have a very rare opportunity to tap into kingdom rewards.
The revelation you have of a minister of God will determine how you honour such minister (Mark 6:1-6). Never see a minister of God as a needy person. See him as a needed person. Sometimes, they appear to be in need. But their seeming need is your own opportunity for a kingdom reward (2 Kings 4:8-17).
When I see the way people plan big for programs; publicity, billboards, food, and other preparations without due attention to how they would take care of the guest minister, I know they lack understanding. In my opinion, preparing to receive a guest minister is your most important preparation for a program (1 Timothy 5:17).
Thank God for big billboards, food for participants, souvenirs, etc., but none of these can bless anyone tangibly like the grace of God upon the minister (Galatians 6:6-9). Never give excuse for not receiving or honouring a guest speaker correctly. As students on campus those days, we would stretch ourselves and go all the way to ensure we host guests properly. We don’t usually invite any guest that we cannot properly host.
Sometimes, familiarity can make people dishonour guest speakers.
Even if a guest is your friend, father, or someone you have a good relationship with, see this as the reason you should go all the way to honour him (2 Corinthians 5:16). It is wrong to dishonour someone because of familiarity. Most of these, “Please, accept us the way we are, help us manage this, etc.,” do not reflect the culture of the kingdom. You need to go all the way to honour the person you claim to honour (Malachi 1:6-9). Is this clear enough?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria