Good morning friends! In my time in ministry, I have been blessed to travel extensively to churches throughout the world. At many churches I meet fantastic men of God who, sadly, are largely underutilized. Often, I speak with preachers who feel they are not allowed to make a difference in the lives of their congregation. They are there to serve, but starving for opportunities to do so.
My friend, I can assure you all congregations have an overabundance of problems that could be benefited by pastoral involvement. So why are there so many discouraged and underutilized preachers?
I believe the reason is because it’s often hard for adults to go to another adult for advice. Often we are embarrassed, ashamed or perhaps just downright scared to confide in others, for we feel people may think less of us if we do. Even more perplexing is that when we do share our burden with somebody, we tend to take our issues to peers rather than our God-ordained pastors! This is mind-boggling considering peers will rarely provide real solutions!
Again I present the question, why do we shy away from God’s ordained system of management by leaving our preachers out of important decisions in our lives? I believe this behavior can be attributed to our intensively competitive nature; an overly competitive nature is a manifestation of one thing-pride! It’s just more “stinkin thinkin”, so to speak. Although we are often unaware of it, many of us have an inherent desire to be “our preachers most esteemed layman.” Therefore, we spare rather than share with them our “dirt”, thus effectively forfeiting the guidance they are ordained by God to provide to us. Oh, how foolish we can be!
In I Timothy 5:17, Paul writes, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.” Here Paul is clearly referring to the pastoral position of the local New Testament church. He says, essentially, “take care of your preachers, hold them in high regard, and take heed to what they say!” In order to meet this responsibility to our preachers, we must develop intimate relationships with our pastors.
Listen carefully: A very large part of “taking care of our preachers” is allowing them to be woven within the fabric of our daily lives. Just like Jesus Himself, our preachers feel honored when we rely upon them and confide in them. God has called these special men to bear burdens and guide us spiritually; therefore, when we “pull down the blinds” on the windows of our lives it often causes them to feel they are failing to fulfill God’s purpose for their life. Not only will our “seeking them out” go a long way toward giving our preachers the “double honor” that they so deserve, but it will place you in a much safer position in life as well. Our preachers are a vital part of our “umbrella of protection”, and without them we fore go the protection and leadership that God has designed for them to provide us.
When I returned back to the church after a decade of serving the world, I immediately placed myself under my pastor, Dr. Paul Kingsbury. When I did so, Pastor Kingsbury did not think less of me, but rather he thought more of me and even more so, he thought more often of me! As he bore my burdens, he became a driving influence in my life that did nothing more valuable than bring us closer. Today, we share a relationship of mutual love and respect on a professional and personal level. Through good times and bad I have openly shared my life with this man, and I can say with confidence that I would not be where I am today if it were not for his leadership and guidance-that is to say the benefits of our relationship.
My friend, I encourage you to reach out to your pastor soon. Why not share your burdens you’ve been feeling with him? He wants to help you more than you could ever want his help! Furthermore, God designed it this way. After all, your preachers advice can only serve to move, sooth, improve, or behoove… both of your lives! So if you desire to please your Master, honor your pastor! It will keep you from disaster.
Have a great day IN the Lord!
Steven Curington
Print This Post
