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Pastors and Working Hard pt 2
By jason | December 21, 2007
One of the difficulties for a person in ministry struggling with the razor’s edge of working hard and hardly working is the question, “What do you do exactly.” Man, if I had a nickel every time I heard that we could fund 3 church plants right now.
It’s not that this shouldn’t be asked. Our attitude shouldn’t be that of the arrogant, incompetent journalist who spouts off any drivvle she’d like while supporting her claims with “I have stacks of evidence on my desk don’t question me.” No, the issue is different than that and shouldn’t elicit a defensive posture as though I’m being asked to prove the need for my existence.
Rather, the question belies a fundamental hardship for every pastor: most people are unacquainted with vocational ministry and thus just do not understand what and why you do what you do.
So with that hopefully this post will serve several purposes. 1. Maybe it will give you a glimpse into the world of a minister. 2. Maybe it will help you see some areas in which you, as a minister, should work hard. 3. If nothing else it will help you see some of my own priorities.
In my mind I think that Paul’s words to the Ephesian believers really form the framework for what I do as a minister.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Eph 4.11-12).
My goal and intent is to equip the saints for the work of ministry as I participate in the mission of God in our world. I want to help people come to know Jesus, grow in their allegiance to Jesus, and then to send them out to do the same with others.
The Work of The Word
Based on this here are two important aspects in which a pastor/elder must work hard. These are two very unique aspects of hard work in ministry that are quite different than someone who is not in vocational ministry. These are the study and teaching of God’s word and prayer. While I would argue every disciple needs to participate in these it is an unique activity for a pastor/elder.
And these two activities do take time, effort, energy. This may be one aspect that isn’t fully appreciate by some. But if a pastor is going to grow personally and is going to lead others he must spend quality (and quantity) time in this endeavor.
1. We must become disciplined to spend time with Jesus through his word and prayer. This is not some means to an end. There can be a tendency to spend time studying the Bible and praying so that we can prepare for teaching and leading. What I am talking about here is our need to have our very lives connected to the one who sustains us.
2. We must become disciplined in Bible study and prayer. Here I am specifically talking about our need to grow in our understanding of the word so that we can teach and lead people. If we aren’t taking steps to grow in our understanding of the scriptures it will be extremely difficult to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word.
I’ve seen too often, in myself and others, a tendency to stick with what I’ve done/studied in the past and not really grow more and more. This really is unacceptable. But it will take time and energy and effort and diligence.
This is really difficult to quantify in importance. And in our American culture I feel the pressure of “producing” just like the next guy. And for myself I have a hard time telling people that part of my work is studying. That would be understood if I were a student. But someone who has a “real” job? (Maybe that’s why people often joke about me not having a “real” job.)
I’m sure you can see the dilemma can’t you? Studying doesn’t seem to produce much. But if the role of a pastor-teacher is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to teach the whole counsel of God’s word, study and prayer is indispensable to the hard work of a pastor.
This isn’t the only work a minister needs to take part in. It’s not as if a pastor should just hole up in his office studying and preparing his sermon for 40 hours a week. In the next post we’ll consider what I’ll call The Work of the World.
So what do you think?
Topics: Church, Leadership, LifeConnection |
December 21st, 2007 at 4:32 pm
niiiice. me likey.