There are many words that can be used to describe ministry success. One must remember that we should not aim to be successful in ministry at the cost of sacrificing our own relationship with God. I don't think anyone starts out in ministry with this aim. However, some people find themselves separated from God after serving Him for many years.
Jared Wilson, who serves as the Director of Content Strategy at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote the following statement on Twitter (@jaredcwilson) on July 27, 2016:
What a waste it would be to enjoy decades upon decades of ever-increasing ministry success and never experience deep friendship with God.
May pastors, including myself, abide in Christ as we serve Him. How wasteful it would be to serve God faithfully over decades on this earth and not have a relationship with Him. This is a good reminder how important it is for us to pray for our pastors, for each other, and for ourselves.
