Charge To The Pastor—Keep The End In View
Rick Gillespie-Mobley
2 Timothy 4:7-8 1 Peter 5:1-4
Earlier this month, many of us shared in the joy of watching the Olympics. Athletes from all over the world dazzled us with their speed, their swimming, their gymnastics, their team sports, and a whole lot more. One thing that all of these athletes had in common whether it was an individual sport or a team effort was, they knew what they wanted to accomplish and disciplined themselves accordingly.
We all know that no gold medalist, just happened to show up the day before the Olympics and won the gold. We also know that no discuss winner, insisted on being allowed to run the 100 meter dash. Their goal was to train in advance for a particular event which they were equipped to excel in. They had an “end view” in mind.
Every pastor should have an end view in mind so that they can work backwards from that goal and make decisions for their lives and ministries. One of the best places to get that end view in mind is from the Apostle Paul in his letter to a young pastor by the name of Timothy. Paul knew that his life would be coming to an end shortly as he sat in jail, a man condemned to die.
In looking back over his life, he wrote these words in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.
The apostle lets us know that ministry is not always going to be easy. It is a fight. But notices he says, it’s a good fight. Experienced boxers know that they are going to take some blows every now and then, and some blows are going to hurt more than others. But the Boxers also knows the thrill of having won the match and the joy of celebrating with all those who helped to make the victory possible.
No doubt God will call you to do some things that seem overwhelming at the moment. But never feel as though you are in the fight alone. Allow your brothers and sisters on Session to carry the burden with you. Never forget, Proverbs 11:14 tells us that victory is won through many advisors.
When you see a fight coming up on the horizon, don’t be too quick to say, “The Lord has told me” because it immediately puts at opposition anyone who may want you to rethink what you’re planning to do. It also may cut you off from some valuable advice from others. Simply because someone is hesitant on a proposal, doesn’t mean they are against you.
The Spirit may be leading them to cause you to think of something you had not considered and your good vision may become an even better vision than before. Remember from our Old Testament reading that God told Abraham he would have a son, but he didn’t tell him it would be about 25 years before it happened. Be patient and allow others to come on board on their time table.
The Apostle Paul said, he fought the good fight. Not every fight that comes your way is a good one. Leave those fights alone and just walk away. You can’t defend youself against every accusation that will be hurled against you. Someone has said a bulldog can whip a skunk on any given day, but the smart bulldog knows it’s not worth the fight.
The good fight as a pastor means that after God, comes the family God has blessed you with. Fight to protect your time that is due to them, because others will try to steal it away from them with well-meaning programs or meetings. Fight the urge to go out and do ministry at the sacrifice of your family. Fight the urge to be one person in public, and another person at home. Fight the urge to believe that as long as you’re doing God’s work, God will work out things in the home. You will serve your congregation best by being an example of how a husband should love and serve his wife, and how a father should love his children. Take time to listen to your wife’s counsel. God has her there in your life for a reason.
The Apostle Paul said, I have finished the race. In his song, “What If”, Matthew West wrote the lyrics “My biggest fear is waking up to find what matters, is miles away from what I spent my life chasing after.” The reality is that we are all chasing after something as we run this race called life. There are three things that are going to hinder us in our race, when we should be running toward Jesus. The apostle John tells us they are, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. They take our eyes off the “end view.”
God has not called you to dream of a super ministry, to hope for more status in the community, or to have the number one Christian podcast in the nation. God has called you to run your race with humility, being eager to go and serve wherever the Lord may send you. God has called you to seek wisdom and guidance concerning those whom you let run alongside of you. Some no doubt can aid you in your run, but others will only slow you down, and some may even lead to you being disqualified in your race. Not everyone should be included in your inner circle of friends.
In your race as pastor, you are not competing against any other pastor. You are competing against the pastor you are now and the pastor God is calling you to be. Your goal should be to catch the version of you in front of you that is fully submitted to God’s will, so that the both of you cross the finish line at the same time. You will be racing each other up until the moment of your death. Keep as close to your competitor as you possibly can get. For in doing so, you will become more like Jesus.
Should there be times when you stumble, get back up on the track. Never allow your past to distract you in your race. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:13-14 3 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
The final thing the Apostle said about his life, was that he had kept the faith. Just look at the things the Apostle endured in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. “24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Now hopefully you will not have the same experiences as the Apostle Paul especially with the beatings. But there will be moments when you doubt if you’re making a difference in the lives of others. There will be moments when you may doubt if God truly called you to this ministry.
Pastoral work can be such a rewarding time in a person’s life. You are there for some of the greatest celebrations in many lives of the people in the congregation. You will also be there at some of the darkest moments in their lives. They will look to you to be their rock and their anchor when their own faith seems to falter.
Never forget that Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” When people come into your life, and you pour yourself into them and they leave with no explanation, don’t waste time saying what did I do wrong. Simply be prepared to love the next person God has in mind for you to show the love of Christ.
The body of Christ is made up of far more wonderful brothers and sisters than you can imagine. When you look at each one, look at them with the eyes of Jesus, willing to be compassionate and understanding in the way you relate to them. They look up to you and will hold you in higher esteem than you will deserve.
God has called you to be their leader. So you must lead. Take care of the needs of the flock, but always inside the truth of the faith we have received. You are not in a popularity contest, so don’t believe all the wonderful things that will be said about you. Keep the faith, so that you can please your Lord and savior. Jesus Christ.
Have at least one brother in Christ who can challenge you on your behavior and hold you accountable for the temptations you face. Be willing to share your weaknesses and tell them in advance of some tempting situation you know you will be facing. There is strength in sharing our weaknesses with the right person.
Keeping the faith means you won’t twist God’s word to cover a sin in your life, or in the lives of those you love. Each and every day of your life, remember Paul’s word to a young pastor by the name of Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
This is a charge to the young person who is about to be installed as the pastor of the church.
