After they got into the ministry, they soon found out that things are not as easy as they look, and they left the ministry and found themselves a job where they could make more money and have less headaches.
Illus: After George W. Bush won the presidency in 2004, he immediately took on a campaign promise to attack social security.
He said something had to be done because many of the young voters are being forced to pay social security, but when they reach retirement with the present system there will be no social security there for them because of the mishandling of the funds by the politicians.
During his campaign, he proposed the privatization of the social security program by allowing young voters to invest in the stock market which yields a lot more than the social security program they are forced to participate in today.
The proposal had two benefits for the young voters:
(1) They could make a better profit on their money and at death it goes to their heirs.
(2) They would not be forced to invest in a social security program that will not be there when they retire.
However, once all these young people are pulled from the social security system, it is going to create a problem financially. They will not be contributing to the system that supports the elderly today.
In fact, it will take trillions of dollars over several decades to make this transition, but the fact is something like privatizing this program is going to have to be done.
After his re-election, he felt he had a mandate to act on this program because he campaigned on it. He wasted no time dealing with this problem.
He made a speech and the journalists immediately said, “HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FINANCE THIS TRANSITION PERIOD?”
He smiled and said, “If it was an easy job, it would have already been done. But something has got to be done to protect the young workers in this nation. It is not right for the them to be forced into a system that is going to be bankrupt when they need it.”
The president has a very difficult job. For example:
• There are people that love him
• There are people that hate him and would do anything to destroy him
The reason I mention his job is because it is like a pastors job. He faces the same kind of problems on a smaller scale.
The pastor has people:
• Who are upset if he has a day off
• Who are upset if he has a new car
• Who are upset if he takes a vacation
• Who are upset if he gets a deserved raise
• Who are upset if he gets a retirement
It is a difficult job and many have decided they can make more money and have fewer problems if they go back into the secular world.
Illus: A preacher's wife in a large church once asked a new member how he liked his new church home.
• "Great! The church is friendly, I love the building, the singing is excellent, and the teaching program is practical."
• "What about the preaching?" she asked.
• "Well, quite frankly, that's one area I've been disappointed in. The sermons are dry, too long, and don't relate well to my life."
• Preacher's wife said, "Do you know who I am?"
• The Man said, "No."
• "Good!" she said, and disappeared into the crowd.
A pastor’s job is a difficult one. What makes the job so unbearable for some?
(1) THE PASTOR HAS TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW MORE THAN HE DOES.
After many years in the seminary and many years of experience, he is often confronted with people who have had no seminary or personal experience in the Lord’s work, but they KNOW EVERYTHING.
Illus: This reminds me of the pastor that advertised in the local newspaper; “FOR SALE, a complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything.”
People who think that they know exactly HOW TO PREACH, and WHAT TO PREACH make the minister’s job difficult.
(2) THE PASTOR HAS TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE MOTIVATED.
Illus: One young pastor was called to a church that was filled with a lot of elderly people, and they were very set in their ways.
One Sunday, he decided he was going to get them to move. He serve them communion using prune juice. There was a lot of activity in that service, and when one of the old deacons asked him why he did such a thing, he said, “If you won’t let the Holy Spirit move you, I decided the prune juice would.”
Illus: This kind of a congregation reminds me of Pastor Bob, who was a great preacher and much loved by his congregation. He visited the sick, preached great sermons, and had a loving wife
However Pastor Bob always left town at 2 in the afternoon and was gone for one hour, like clockwork. Soon the parishioners became uneasy with Pastor Bob's curious schedule and began to ask questions.
• They went to the deacons with their concerns. "Could Pastor Bob have a girlfriend in the neighboring town?"
• Unsure of what to do, and not wanting to confront him on their own, they went to the denominational leaders with this problem and talked with the District Overseer.
• Finally after prayer and deliberation, the District Overseer went to Pastor Bob and asked him about his curious goings and comings. Pastor Bob invited the District Overseer to join him at 2:00 that afternoon. They drove to a high hill overlooking the small town and the railroad track that ran through the valley. After sitting there quietly for some time.......a beautiful silver train streaked through the valley at very high speed.
• He turned to the District Overseer and said, "Isn't that a beautiful sight?"
• "Yes," the Bishop agreed, "That is a beautiful sight. And is this where you come every afternoon?"
• "Yes," said Pastor Bob. "I come here to be inspired. It is the only thing moving around here that I don't have to push!"
(3) THE PASTOR HAS TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK THE WORD OF GOD APPLIES TO EVERYONE ELSE BUT NOT TO THEM
Illus: A pastor had a bad week. On Sunday he was very frustrated and he began his sermon, "Everyone in this parish is going to hell if they don't change their ways." One man in the back began to laugh. So the pastor said it again louder. The man continued to laugh. The pastor went back to him and asked him why he was laughing. He answered, "Because I don't belong to this parish!"
(4) THE PASTOR HAS TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO BELITTLE HIM
Illus: One pastor had such a church, and after the morning service he went into the rest room and he washed his hands and went to the sanitary air blower to dry them, and there was sign above the dryer that read, “To hear this morning’s sermon, please push the button!”
A pastor’s job is very difficult. It is important that a congregation knows what the scriptures say about the job the minister is called to do.
For example, the pastor is called to be -
I. THE SHEPHERD TO THE FLOCK
Look at 1 Peter 5:2, we read, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof….”
There are some pastors who seem to believe that the church belongs to them. There are churches where the property is in the name of the pastor. He can truly say the church belongs to him.
Illus: If a pastor stood up before a congregation and said, “Today when you make a check out for your tithes, please make the check out to me,” people all over the congregation would look at each other like he is crazy! Rightfully so! But some television minister can tell millions to make their checks out to him, and people will do it without reservation.
The church does not belong to the Pastor, the church belongs to the Lord. Notice, the scripture says-
A. IT IS THE LORD'S FLOCK
Look at 1 Peter 5:2a again. The Word of God says the pastor’s job is to, "Feed the flock of God..."
Notice, the scriptures make it clear that the church does not belong to the pastor. Peter, in writing to other pastors, said, “Feed the flock of God.” It is the Lord’s flock but also-
B. IT IS A LOCAL FLOCK
The Lord’s church is not a building, it is made up of the saints of God who dwell here among us. Look at 1 Peter 5:2b, "...Which is among you,..."
The pastor is THE SHEPHERD OF THE FLOCK, but also he is-
II. THE SUPERVISOR OF THE FLOCK
Look at 1 Peter 5:2, we read, “…taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.”
Notice, Peter tells these pastors that they are to oversee their flocks-
A. RIGHT POSITION
Look at the pastor's position in the church. Look at 2c, we read, "...taking the oversight thereof..."
A Pastor cannot be a dictator but neither can he be a wimp. Notice the words that Peter uses: “Taking the oversight thereof…” This speaks of force somewhat because there are always people in the congregation who are trying to take the oversight themselves.
When a pastor goes to a new church, he cannot make any radical changes. As times goes on and the people recognize that he is a man of God that is trying to do what is right, HE HAS TO BE A STAND UP MAN because if he is not SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE.
The apostle in the New Testament had to deal with such people.
Look at 3 John 1:9-10, we read, “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”
Every pastor has to recognize that God has placed him there as the under-Shepherd to lead the flock of God, but there have always been and always will be men like Diotrephes, who want to take his position away from him as the under-Shepherd of the flock.
B. RIGHT PRIORITY
The Pastors position has to have a balance, he is not a dictator, but he is not a wimp.
Look at 2d, we read, "...not by constraint, but willingly..."
WHAT DOES THIS VERSE MEAN?
Illus: Years ago, there was an old saying in the mill villages in America. They said, “You got so poor you became too poor to move out of the mill village.” In other words, by CONSTRAINT many lived there all their life because they were forced to live there.
This is what Peter is saying to these pastors. Do not pastor because of CONSTRAINT, do it because you are WILLING to do this for the Lord.
C. RIGHT PURPOSE
Look at 2e, we read, "... not for filthy lucre,..."
Illus: There are some churches that pay the pastor a good salary. But the majority churches have the attitude, “God give us a pastor that is poor and humble. You keep him humble and we will keep him poor.”
Some churches are better than others in taking care of their pastor.
Illus: One pastor preached a whole month at a church. It was agreed that at the last service of the month they would take up a collection for him and his family. The time came and he passed his hat around for everyone to give. When it got back to him it was empty. He raised his hat up toward heaven and said, “Lord, I thank thee I got my hat back from these people!”
As difficult as a pastor’s job might be, God has a special crown for the pastor who faithfully does his job.
Conclusion:
The pastor’s job is a very difficult job and this is why God has a special crown for the faithful pastor who will do what God has called him to do.
Look at 2 Peter 5:4, God has said to the pastor, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, YE SHALL RECEIVE A CROWN OF GLORY THAT FADETH NOT AWAY.”
We have looked at:
I. SHEPHERD OF THE FLOCK
II. THE SUPERVISOR OF THE FLOCK
A. RIGHT POSITION
B. RIGHT PRIORITY
C. RIGHT PURPOSE
