In the journey of ministry, as we build alongside with friends in the ministry, we must be cautious not to feel “entitled” to minister or preach in our friends’ churches or during conferences they organise.

While there is often mutual honor and sometimes mutual invitations in ministry, you must never take this to the point where you appear to be forcefully inviting yourself or suggesting that you should be invited.

This is also very important in meetings where you’ve spoken annually. By God’s grace I have friends who I have spoken in meetings they organise for several years. It is very crucial that you do not feel entitled to always speak or feel upset that in a particular year you were not invited.

When you’re invited, give it your best without taking the opportunity for granted or insinuating that you will be speaking also the next year except your host mentions it. And if he does not, keep your cool and focus on delivering your best at that moment.

Many times, we take being friends in ministry for granted. It’s important that we grace the pulpits because the Lord has opened that door for us and not because we have forced it open. You must never feel entitled to any pulpit, programme or meeting. 

“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.” Luke 14:10, NLT.

Did you observe the host said ‘friend” move up to a better place?  Despite being already friends, he waited to be invited up.