To do ministry is to die empty

“Don’t die old, die empty. That’s the goal of life.

Go to the cemetery and disappoint the graveyard.” – Myles Munroe

It is said that the richest place on earth is the cemetery because of the many untapped, buried treasures and talents. As Christians, we could not allow a life that is reserved.

Ministry Life is a life that has no reservation.

Philippians 2:6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

The part that says “he took the humble position of a slave” or in NIV “he emptied himself” the word “empty” there is “kenosis” meaning to pour out everything until it is gone.

Jesus’ ministry life showed us how ministry should be defined – it is about reserving nothing. It is about reserving nothing of us – our talents, our potential, our abilities, our love – giving it all up, pouring it out until there’s nothing more we could ever give.

Jesus did not stop at some level – when he came down from heaven and became a poor carpenter’s son, he did not say he had enough then.

When he was bullied and laughed at, he did not end his ministry then.

After he had healed many, raised the dead, or make the blind see – he did not stop just because he already performed something.

Even when he cried at Gethsemane, was tried and was carrying the cross- he did not stop because he already contributed something to God’s cause.

Jesus continued and finished his ministry and reserved nothing until there’s nothing more he could give

– he died a criminal’s death on the cross.

I believe that we reach our maximum potential of praise only when we reach heaven, and so until we get there-there is always something more we could give to God.

I hope that as you read this, you will make a decision to sleep at night knowing that you have emptied yourself for the day, nothing has been reserved for the glory of God, and wake up the next day with your goal to give God your all.

May it be that if we die and return home to God someday, we will not leave behind untapped potential, unused talent, unutilized anointing, and wasted resources because we will die exhausted, everything is already given for the glory of God; we will die empty.