Every pastor I know entered ministry with a heart for God and a heart for people. When God called me into ministry I was humbled and honored and freaked out to think that God would bless me with the responsibility of shepherding people. I wish I could say that I have always maintained that mentality but I haven’t.
One of the battles I have faced as a pastor is the battle to love people. It is easy to enter ministry with a heart bursting for people only to wind up years later avoiding and resenting the very people you once loved. It has happened to me. Ministry is a tough job. It isn’t a 9-5, punch a clock job. It can be a very thankless job. It is impossible to seperate your home life and your work life.
Over time it is easy to distance yourself from the people you once tried to reach.
In these moments it is worth remembering Pauls words in 1 Thessalonians 2:8–“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.”
Pastors, do you preach to a crowd or do you do life with people? It is easy to stand on a stage and preach TO people but it is difficult to DO life together. Are you sharing your life with others? I know that when a church grows you cannot spend time with everyone but you can still spend time with someone. The words of Andy Stanley ring in my ears, “do for some what you cannot do for all.” You can’t shake everyone’s hands but you can shake some. You can’t visit everyone in the hospital but you can visit some. You can’t know everyone but you can know some.
Never lose the value of doing life with others.
You can’t embrace the broken if you keep them at arms length.
Cadillac Records dvd
So true! I have spent around 25 years in ministry. I and my family poured ourselves into the lives of the people God allowed us to serve. In ministry, you are in the midst of tragedies and triumphs as you share. We became the hurt and broken – seemingly beaten by those we so loved. It has taken a lot of time and healing to embrace others as we once did. I even have to admit being squeamish and fearful. Ministry happens in the middle and muddle of life and does not happen without great risks from those who minister with genuine hearts. One can be hurt, but the joys of embracing people in the midst of sudden death, illness, a new child, a lost child, weddings, and a multitude of crisis and great joys of life most definitely outweigh the risk of personal hurt. When you share with people in this way you worship with them in a true, honest spirit. It is an experience of sitting in the lap of the Creator of life – what comfort, joy, and sheer love. The broken – serving the broken. As Henry Nouwen said – The Wounded Healer! You cannot speak honestly and truthfully to the people if you don’t know the people. Continue to embrace one by one – that’s the only way it can be “personal.” Thanks for sharing.
Eventually it all boils down to motivation. And of course that means for pastors and the rest of us too. What is our motive for serving? For the true shepherd it is more than simply the survival of the sheep for business sake. The sheep have to be loved and lovingly cared for.