By Bishop Dag Heward-Mills
I want to show you why it is such
a burden to pastor people.
1.
PEOPLE ARE BY NATURE UNGRATEFUL AND FORGETFUL
…in the last
days… men shall be… unthankful… 2 Timothy 3:1,2
You can notice ungratefulness in
people by the way they complain. Moses led the Israelites out of bondage and
slavery and yet they murmured and complained bitterly against him. Aaron even
had to make a golden calf to calm them down.
When something minute goes wrong,
you may be surprised at the actions of people you have ministered to. Some
easily forget what you have done for them, especially since the things that a
pastor does are not always tangible but spiritual. Most tend to think that the
pastor has done nothing for them. Others go a step further and commit evil
towards you after you have been a blessing to them. Don’t be shocked!
The prophet Jeremiah experienced
the same thing from his people. He said,
Shall evil be
recompensed for good? Jeremiah 18:20a
Once a pastor of another
denomination told me us a very disturbing story. He said that he was surprised
when one of his church members came to his house one night to assault him. He couldn’t
believe that this young man whom he had led to Christ, trained up in the Lord,
blessed his marriage and helped him through various crises would attack him in
that manner.
Dear friend, do not be surprised!
Do not expect gratitude from man, expect your rewards from God. Hezekiah was blessed.
But he did not “render again”. That means he did not show gratitude for all the
blessings he had received.
But Hezekiah
RENDERED NOT AGAIN according to the benefit done unto him…
2 Chronicles
32:25
2.
PEOPLE WILL BETRAY YOU
Though Judas walked and
ministered with Jesus for three years, he eventually betrayed him for a small
amount of money.
Betrayal is a part of ministry.
It is also a part of life. If you have yet to experience betrayal, I can assure
you that you will. The disturbing thing about betrayal is that it is done by
people who are supposedly close to you.
You are not greater than your
master, Jesus! The fact that someone may one day betray you may make it very
difficult for you to happily interact and flow with the ministry. Look closely at
the ministry of any great man of God. You will discover that they have all had
their fair share of traitors. All of this contributes to the burden and
difficulty of ministry.
Yea, mine own
familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up
his heel against me. Psalm 41:9
3.
PEOPLE ARE WICKED
Alexander, the Coppersmith did
Paul a lot of harm in his ministry.
Alexander the
coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works. 2
Timothy 4:14
I have experienced wickedness
from people who have lifted themselves up to fight and oppose me. There were
times when my ministry and very existence have even become a source of work for
such wicked individuals. The work being fighting, slandering and that of opposition
without my existence, I think some people may not have a job to do.
If you are not resolute in
ministry, you could easily decide to leave the harassment’s behind you and move
on to a more peaceful existence in some secular job.
4.
PEOPLE CAN ABANDON YOU SUDDENLY
Paul had experienced sudden
desertions by some of his colleagues, like Demas. I remember one young man whom
I trained.
He was about to take up an
important position in the ministry that we had been preparing for over a year.
On the day he was to fill the position, he suddenly informed me that he was
leaving the country. I couldn’t believe my ears! All of our months of preparation
meant nothing to him. He just abandoned ship without notice. These experiences
are all part of the ministry. Abandonment also occurred under the ministry of
Apostle Paul.
For Demas hath
forsaken me… 2 Timothy 4:10
5.
PEOPLE ARE EQUALIZERS, DISRESPECTFUL AND IMPUDENT
And Miriam and
Aaron spake against Moses… Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? HATH HE
NOT SPOKEN ALSO BY US? Numbers 12:2
Miriam and Aaron (the closest
assistants and closest relatives) were now speaking against Moses. They most
probably said these things like, “God also speaks by us,” and “Are you the only
one?” With time, familiarity enters the relationship and they now consider you
as an equal. They tend to think, “We can all do it. What’s the big deal! You
are no different from us!”
This is unfortunate, but real.
People easily take you for granted. They murmur and complain against you,
forgetting all that you have done for them. When they lose their temper, you will
find church members speaking to you like a little child. “You Remind Me of
My Father”
One church member approached her
pastor after Sunday service. The pastor thought she was about to compliment him
for the powerful sermon he just preached. She started, “Pastor, you know
something? I felt I should tell you that you remind me of my father.” “Oh
really!” the pastor responded. She said, “He was so full of himself and so are
you!”
The pastor was taken aback but he
had to smile and continue as though he had received a compliment. The church
member was telling the pastor exactly what she thought of him.
Now Korah… and
Dathan… and Abiram… and On… rose up before Moses… and said… WHEREFORE THEN LIFT
YE UP YOURSELVES [Moses
and Aaron] above the congregation of the Lord? Numbers 16:1-3
These rebels apparently thought
that Moses felt he was too “big for his own shoes”.
6.
PEOPLE ARE DISOBEDIENT AND REBELLIOUS
Samuel confronted Saul and asked
him why he had not obeyed the Lord fully. One of the difficult things every
pastor will have to come to terms with is that in spite of all the good things
you preach, many people are still disobedient and continue to live in sin.
I used to be amazed at the extent
of spiritual rebellion found in the Body of Christ. But that is human nature.
Wherefore then
didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and
didst evil in the sight of the Lord? 1 Samuel 15:19
7.
PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND DO NOT RESPOND
When any one
heareth the word of the kingdom, and UNDERSTANDETH IT NOT…Matthew 13:19
Sometimes people do not
understand the Word. Often they do not understand why you have to do
fundraising. Consequently, many do not respond in giving. Many times, I have to
explain that they are giving to build a nice church where they can have their
weddings, baby dedications and other ceremonies.
Leading people who have all the
above characteristics: ungratefulness, disloyalty, etc., are major problems.
One person cannot do it alone.
The burden must be shared with others. Sharing the burden is hard work. The
people will be angry with you as well. Every good or bad thing will come your
way.
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