“That’s not fair”. I hear those words quite often out of the mouth of children. Sometimes my own. They like to think that the world is a nice and fair place and everybody plays by the rules. Adults would like to pretend that we live in a fair world as well. But we don’t. Life isn’t fair.
Which means pastoral ministry isn’t fair.
Let me tell you one way in which being a pastor isn’t fair at all.
Right now I’m pastoring a church with about 175-200 active members. I’ve also committed myself to being intentional about praying for our people. I shared a little about my plan for being more intentional in praying for our flock. This means that if you are a member of our church you can expect me to set apart intentional time to pray for you and your family about three-four times per year.
With about 200 people to pray for, that really is about the best I can do when it comes to specifics. I can pray general prayers for all of our people each and every day—and I do that. But I can’t pray for everyone every day.
But you know what isn’t fair?
I’ve got something close to 200 people praying specifically for me and my family every single day.
That’s not fair. At all.
But, man, am I grateful for our people who faithfully pray for me and my family. It truly is humbling, knowing that so many people pray for me, specifically and intentionally, on a daily basis.
And so next time we pastors feel like having a gripe fest about all the things which aren’t fair, perhaps we should remember all of the unique blessings—which totally aren’t fair—which comes with being a pastor.
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Photo source: here
This reminds me again that God gives more grace to His servants when he gives them more responsibility!
Being a pastor can be one of the most lonely, especially when pastoring a smaller church without a full group of elders. That’s why I think it’s imperative that pastors help cultivate a plurality of elders that he can fellowing and partner with, and mutually submit to.