By most standards, his ministry was not much of a success.

Becoming a pastor or a missionary was never in his plans. In fact, it was the furthest thing from his mind. Preparing himself for a high-powered secular career, he attended a prestigious university. But sometime later, in spite of his reluctance, his mind was changed. God called him.

From almost the beginning, he was embroiled in public controversies and disagreements with his coworkers and fellow believers. He never stayed long in any one congregation. No matter where he went, there were those who had no use for him and who did all they could to make his life and work miserable. Often he would leave for his next congregation quickly, painfully aware that not everyone appreciated his efforts.

He never viewed himself as a particularly gifted preacher; he often stated that he was not up to the task in terms of his speaking skills. He looked at his own personal failures and remarked to himself and others that he was not worthy to be doing this work. He struggled continually with some kind of ailment that made his life and work difficult. He never mentioned what it was.

One congregation seemed to fall apart shortly after he left, with members becom-ing tolerant of open immoral behavior, quarreling with one another, and easily adopting teachings and doctrines that were not true.

In the end, he died alone, and the world did not much notice.

His was not a very successful ministry—unless you measure “success” in ministry by other standards. This pastor and missionary who might be judged as a failure by any human standards was the apostle Paul.

Paul would agree that his personal abilities and accomplishments were few and far between. But he did not—nor should we—measure the success of his ministry in those terms. This was the man who recognized that the words he preached were not his words; they were the words of God himself. He recognized that the power of his message was not in himself but in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His was a ministry of the cross, proclaiming that God’s way of saving people through the cross, while foolish to the world, was nothing less than the wisdom and power and love of God.