I have found that certain things come naturally to me. God has given me some innate abilities. He has also entrusted me with spiritual gifts. He has allowed experiences that have shaped me and strengthened me over time. All of these pieces work together to make ministry more effective and more enjoyable.
But if I am not careful, those very blessings can become blind spots.
When you first begin in ministry, there is a desperation that keeps you humble. You are not sure how things will come together. You feel the weight of preparing, praying, planning, and pleading with God for help. Over time, as rhythms become familiar and responsibilities become routine, something subtle can happen. You start to assume it will all work out because it typically does.
And that is when the danger creeps in.
The phrase “mail it in” comes from people who would submit work by mail instead of showing up in person. It was known as a way to give less effort and avoid full engagement. The work was technically completed, but the heart and presence were missing. That is the same temptation for us in ministry. Everything on the outside can appear fine, even when the passion and dependence are fading on the inside.
That is why Paul’s words to Timothy are so important. Timothy was not just another believer. He was Paul’s son in the faith, a young pastor entrusted with shepherding God’s people in a challenging culture. In 1 Timothy 4:15, Paul urges him, “Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.” It is a reminder that ministry maturity does not simply happen with time. It happens with intentionality. Even gifted pastors are called to keep growing, keep practicing, and keep developing.
Ministry becomes vulnerable the moment we believe we can do it without dependence. When we rely on our gifting more than God’s presence, or on our experience more than His strength, we slip into a pattern of mailing ministry in. Everything looks the same on the outside, but the spiritual power is gone on the inside.
- Do not let familiarity replace faithfulness.
- Do not let competence replace calling.
- Do not let ease replace eagerness.
Whatever area of ministry God has entrusted to you, keep working hard. Evaluate how you are doing and seek how to improve. Work hard at your tasks. Prepare like it matters. Pray like you cannot do it alone. Serve like someone’s eternity may be shaped by your willingness to be faithful today.
God has given you gifts, but He never intended them to replace Him.
Don’t mail ministry in.
