He came quietly. No fanfare, no palace, no royal entourage. Christ entered the world in a manger, swaddled in simplicity. The King of Kings chose the humblest of beginnings. From His first breath, He spoke a message that ripples through history and nations. Life is not found in riches. Joy is not tied to possessions. “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58). Christ lived as a wandering preacher. His pulpit was the hillside, His congregation the broken and the poor. He carried no bag of coins, sought no earthly crown. His mission was pure, His purpose unwavering.
This message of simplicity and purpose echoes across time, not just for individuals but for nations. A nation’s greatness is not measured by its wealth but by its values. Economic prosperity without moral grounding is empty. The humility of Christ calls leaders to service, not self-interest, to pursue policies that uplift the broken and forgotten. Nations must ask: Are we building wealth to hoard or to help? Do we stand for justice or for greed? His life, born in obscurity yet lived with clarity, offers a blueprint for societies to find purpose beyond possessions. The message of the manger is not just personal; it is profoundly national.
Today, ministers take up this mission. They preach His Word, travel far, and proclaim His name. They echo the call to repentance, the promise of salvation. They carry the banner of Christ to the ends of the earth. Yet something feels amiss. A shadow looms over the zeal. Many leave their home countries for richer lands. They claim to bring the Gospel, yet questions linger. Are they following Christ’s example? Or are they chasing comfort and ease? The line between mission and ambition grows thin.
He who seeks his own gain in the ministry is no minister of Christ. Mission is not a career move. It is a sacred calling steeped in sacrifice. Ministers are sent to save souls, not to seek fortune. The implications extend beyond individual motives. The national identity of mission work comes into focus. When ministers prioritise wealth, the moral witness of their nations falters. Richer lands may offer opportunities, but at what cost? The Gospel must remain central, untainted by personal gain. True mission uplifts both the minister and the people served. It bridges divides, builds communities, and honors Christ’s example of humble service. The world watches. Will today’s ministers embody the selflessness of Christ or succumb to the allure of material gain? The answer defines their legacy and the soul of the nations they represent.
The West offers much. Stable economies. Better infrastructure. Higher salaries. Ministers see these opportunities and feel the pull. The Gospel knows no borders. Preaching in wealthier nations is not wrong. But the heart must remain pure. Why are they going? For souls or for savings? “Man cannot serve two masters,” Christ taught. “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Ministers must choose. The mission field is no place for divided loyalties.
Wealth is not evil. But it is dangerous. St. Paul wrote, “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Not money itself, but the love of it. Wealth can blind. It can distract. A minister’s mission can shift subtly. A larger house. A new car. Justifications abound. “It is for the mission,” they say. But is it? St. John Chrysostom warned, “Riches are not forbidden, but the pride of them is.” Ministers must guard their hearts. They must steward resources, not amass or hoard them.
The Church shines brightest when it reflects Christ. Simplicity. Sacrifice. Service. Ministers who live for wealth dim this light. How can one preach Christ to the poor while living in luxury? How can one proclaim detachment while accumulating possessions? The message must match the messenger. A church that seeks first “every other thing” is a church that has lost its way. True wealth is found in Christ. Ministers must embody this truth.
The tension between money and mission is real. Ministers need resources. Churches need funding. But motives matter. The use of wealth is best when directed toward the common good of all. Wealth can serve the mission. It can build schools, feed the hungry, and support the sick. But it must never become the goal. Ministers in wealthier nations must walk carefully and avoid the trap of materialism. They must remember the mission. Christ lived simply. Born in a manger. Died with no possessions. His life was a sermon.
Ministers are called to follow His example. Simplicity frees the heart. It removes distractions. It focuses the mind on God. St. Francis of Assisi understood this. He embraced poverty to preach Christ more clearly. Ministers must ask hard questions. Why do I seek wealth? Is it for comfort or for the Kingdom? The answers reveal much.
The Church must hold ministers accountable. Structures must ensure integrity. Transparency is vital. Financial decisions must reflect Gospel values. Ministers must live as stewards, not as owners. We must use God’s gifts as though we use them not. Community also plays a role. Fellow ministers must encourage and challenge one another. The mission is too important for compromise.
Christ’s mission was clear. To seek and save the lost. To bring hope to the hopeless. To proclaim the Kingdom of God. Ministers must share this mission. They must preach the Gospel, not prosperity. They must seek souls, not salaries. St. Teresa of Avila prayed, “Christ has no body now but yours.” Ministers are His hands and feet. Their lives must reflect His heart.
The poor often preach the loudest. Not with words, but with lives. Their reliance on God speaks volumes. Ministers in wealthier nations must remember this. They must live in solidarity with the poor. Their wealth must serve, not separate. A church without the poor is no church at all. Ministers must embrace this truth.
Every minister must examine his heart. Why am I here? Is it for God’s glory or my gain? Discernment requires prayer. It requires honesty. St. Augustine taught, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Ministers must find their rest in Christ, not in wealth. The Church must provide guidance. Spiritual directors. Financial accountability. Ongoing formation. These tools help ministers stay focused.
A minister’s life is a sermon. The world watches. Simplicity inspires. Extravagance confuses. When ministers live simply, they point to Christ. They show that He is enough. Their witness becomes powerful. St. Paul’s words still resonate: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). Ministers must embrace this contentment. They must rely on God, not on wealth.
Christ’s life was a model—simple, sacrificial, sincere. Born in a manger. Lived as a wandering preacher. Died with no possessions, no crown, no earthly riches. His mission was pure, His love untainted. Ministers are called to follow this example. Their task is not for glory but for grace, not for wealth but for worship. The mission field is vast, but the path is narrow. Ministers must fix their eyes on Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He is the treasure worth seeking, the prize worth pursuing. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Let every minister’s treasure be Christ. Let their hearts beat with His purpose, their hands labor for His kingdom.
For in Him alone is true joy. In Him alone is peace. In Him alone is the mission made holy. The Gospel is not a means to an end; it is the end itself. Let ministers reflect this truth in their words and their lives. Let them live simply, serve boldly, and love deeply. Only then will they mirror the heart of the One who was born in a manger, lived as a wandering preacher, and gave everything for the salvation of the world.
Fr. Nkadi can be reached at [email protected]
