Rev. Milton Lam Reflects on Ten Years in Ministry

by Milton Lam

KANATA, Ont. – It has been the greatest joy and privilege to serve the Lord in preaching and administering the sacraments in His Church, Rev. Lam said on reaching ten years in ministry. “Over these ten years,” he continues, “I’ve become increasingly aware of my weaknesses in carrying out these duties.”

In his Sermon on the Office of the Ministry, C.F.W. Walther wrote: “What a task this is! Who is capable of it? Who has enough wisdom, faith, love, patience, zeal, faithfulness, strength? An old Church Father said correctly that the preaching office is a burden beyond even what the shoulders of angels can bear.”

“But thank God that He has not left us to bear it alone,” Rev. Lam reflects. “Were it up to us, all would soon fall apart! Our Lord graciously provides and causes the ministry of His Gospel to flourish wherever He sends. We are simply called to faithfulness in rightly dividing the word of truth. Certainly, no one should enter this Office lightly, as it deals with the care of souls.”

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’
– Luke 17:10 –

Pastors can take comfort from Walther’s words: “We preachers have a consolation, and this is it: God does not expect from us gifts that He has not given to us. He does not seek from us works and results that He does not work through us. He only demands from us faithfulness in what He has granted us. And He remains for us a gracious, merciful, patient Father of the house, with whom there is much forgiveness.”

Fondly remembering his time at the seminary, Rev. Lam was taught to regard wherever the Lord has called him to serve as his personal slice of paradise. Having a pastoral call made sure through ordination and installation, he is emboldened to confidently tend to the duties of the office with utmost certainty that the work is pleasing in His sight. God is praised when pastor and their congregation find contentment in one another as God’s respective gift to them. No one boasts or takes credit for themselves in this matter, but all must confess when we see Him face to face: “we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Luke 17:10).

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