The Lord’s work is never a waste of time

Seminary can only teach you so much. Don’t get me wrong. I think theological training is a gift for those who have been called by God to lead and serve in the local church. My time in seminary was a formative season in my personal spiritual development. My mind and soul were flooded with truth and knowledge as I studied theology, surveyed the Scriptures, learned Biblical languages (barely), and sat under the tutelage of godly men who had years of experience and knowledge. But I didn’t learn everything.

Things like dealing with conflict, leading through suffering, and navigating the emotional challenges of pastoral life aren't typically covered in formal coursework but are crucial for successful ministry. There’s an adage among ministers that there should be a class after seminary called “Things They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary.” There are some things you cannot learn until you get out into the field with the sheep.

One of the things is how to visit hospitals. Visiting people in the hospital on a regular basis can be one of the sweetest pastoral experiences. Ministering to people at a time of serious illness or shepherding a family through the final days of the valley of the shadow of death are sobering and sacred moments. But visiting the hospital can also be joyful. I can’t count how many laugh-filled conversations I’ve had sitting in a hospital room with a church member who is on the mend and anxiously awaiting being discharged. Hospital visitation is also the source of some of my wildest stories. Oh, the things I’ve seen and heard. If I’ve seen one scar, I’ve seen them all.

I’ll never forget my first day visiting the hospital. I learned one of the most important ministry lessons of my life that day. I was just starting seminary and interning at a local church. My staff supervisor was a godly missions pastor named Ron. Brother Ron (as I called him) and his family had served for decades as missionaries in various parts of Africa. He and his wife had come back stateside after retiring from his mission organization. Ron came to my office and told me it was time to do my first hospital visits. I was so excited. It was time to do some real ministry. We hopped in his car and headed out to make three visits that day.

When we arrived at the first room the person was fast asleep. We looked for family members, but they had gone to eat lunch. Brother Ron taught me how to write a note and leave it for the family to let them know we had come by. We prayed at the bedside of the sleeping patient and quietly slipped out. Our second visit of the day was nowhere to be found. When we got to their room, we found an empty bed that was neatly made and awaiting the next patient. Turns out they had been discharged a few hours earlier and no one in their family called the church to let us know. The third visit was the liveliest of the three. As soon as we walked in, we saw the church member, who was sedated, and a family member at their bedside. The family member jumped up and proceeded to chew us out for 10 minutes for not coming the day before. Someone had come, but this family member wasn’t there, and now I know they were just scared, frustrated, and needed to vent.

As we stepped off the elevator in the parking garage, I let out a sigh and quipped, “Well, that was a waste of time.” Ron stopped dead in his tracks, and in his gentle way, told me something I’ll never forget. He said, “I want you to understand that we weren’t just visiting church members today. … We were visiting Jesus.” I know he could see the look of confusion in my 20-something eyes, and he then quoted Matthew 25:37-40 from memory, “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” He looked at me and said, “When you’re visiting Jesus, you’re never wasting your time.”

A lot of ministry happens in the shadows. So much goes unseen and often it feels like no one notices. Remember the words of the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” I just want to encourage you today. The Lord sees. The Lord knows. The Lord will honor your faithfulness. Whatever you do “as unto the Lord” is never wasted.