Pastors get tired.
What a way to start a blog huh? It’s true though, we become exhausted at times.
Pastors many times work second and third jobs, take care of family, work on the church property, worry about families/members in the church, pray, study for messages as well as personally, worry about church finances and personal finances…. We get tired.
Why would anyone choose a profession that usually has no retirement benefits, no overtime pay, has costumers that will name a street after you one week and run you out of town on that street the next?
Money? Fame? Recognition? These things are rare in ministry.
Growing up in a pastors home I decided at an early age I never wanted to do what my Dad did. People walk out when you drive up in a new/used car, when your vehicle is too nice/not nice enough, clothes are too nice/not nice enough on and on it goes.
Why pastor a church?
It’s because of the call. I was called to pastor at a young age and realized I needed to learn something about the profession. I began watching my Dad intently, how he prays, his love for people, his desire to see lives changed and all of a sudden people were no longer a frustration, they were a joy! I began to see that God uses ordinary lay-people to minister to Him just as much as the pastor!
When as pastors, our focus is inward, people are a frustration. If it’s all about us we will never be satisfied with their “performance”.
However, when our focus is on helping others reach their full potential all of a sudden they become a wonderful part of life. Our members/attendees become folk we can laugh,cry and rejoice with. There is a joy in serving people instead of complaining about them not serving us.
I think about my Dad often when I am ministering to an individual. His character has always been focused on meeting the needs of people. There were many times I encouraged him to go to greener pastures, bigger churches, more money etc…but he stayed. Now, I talk to people regularly who, had he left, would possibly never have met Jesus.
So you see, the reward truly is in service, in ministry, in loving. The long days and longer nights, the tears, the laughter they all lead to words I want to hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”
Until next time.