Often times, we find ourselves being spoken to with words of wisdom and we take them for granted. This is because we are listening with our physical ears. But, sometimes we listen and we feel the prick at our hearts and we obey, opening our spiritual ears - then, we receive something great - true wisdom.
Not too long ago, Liz and I went to Tommy Barnett's Pastor's School in Phoenix, AZ. Let me tell you, if you have any ministry (which you do) and you have some money (which you can scrounge up) you need to head over there next February. Anyway, on the last night, we met the mother of a great violinist. She was chatting with us, a bit more that with other customers (we were buying a CD). Then, she dropped some spiritual wisdom on us. She said "when you fight, stop, and pray together! I guarantee that you will not be able to be as mad at each other."
Today, as most days, there is a lot on my mind. I was thinking about something my pastor was telling me about the congregation. He was saying that he'll have some people call, they'll be fighting (claiming to be irreconcilable) and he will go over most of the time. Now, the specific time he was referring to was in the middle of the night. Yes, in the middle of the night, someone is having a fight and needs council. Fair enough. But I asked myself the typical 90's question: What would Jesus do?
Today I was reading in Luke chapter 9 and I was caught by a few things Jesus said. More importantly to me, how He was saying it. "If they do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them" (9:5), "You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you?" (9:41), "Let these words sink in..." (9:44), and in response to other people casting out demons in His name "don't stop him, for whoever is for you is not against you" (9:50).
To me, I was understanding the authority Jesus had, but also how he prioritized things in His mind. To one, He could say, "Ok, I'm coming now." to another, "Prepare yourself, I will come tomorrow". He always had something for the moment though. But He didn't necessarily have to jump when people commanded or asked Him to.
Many Hispanic pastors feel this need jump to their feet as soon as anything comes up. That is a good thing; and it is a bad thing as well.
One, when you are raising a child, when he/she screams at night, do you rush in the room 100% of the time to comfort the baby? No! It is common knowledge that if you do, the baby will never learn to comfort itself and get over its problem. So, why then, whenever one of our members has a problem do we 100% of the time feel it necessary to go over to them and comfort them? Doing such a thing prevents that person or persons from learning (properly) how to comfort and adapt to the situation at hand.
Two, as a pastor, you have family and personal needs. When you leave in the middle of the night 4 nights out of the week to comfort families and people, you are running yourself ragged; and if you have family, you are running them ragged too.
"Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" Don't you know that sleep deprivation ends life early? Don't you know that sleep reduces stress, aka the number one killer? Don't you know that "worrying never added a day to your life. But in prayer and petition in thanksgiving ask your heavenly Father and you will receive the Peace that surpasses all understanding."
Your family worries about you when you are not home too. Your wives and husbands lay in bed incomplete, while their other half is away. Your children feel the emptiness when their parent is not there, so that they feel protected.
Tell this family who calls you in the middle of the night: "Separate and pray for no less than three minutes. Then, reconvene and pray together, out loud for no less than five minutes. For in this, you make time to restore yourselves to God." Then, make an appointment with them the following day.
In this, you teach them well how to depend on each other and God foremost, not a third party.
I agree with your comments. As a minister, your priorities are 1) Your God 2) Your Family 3) Your ministry. When you put the ministry before your family,your family structure breaks down,and everyone wonders why. If you "teach" your flock they can call you at any hour for any reason, they will exercise this abuse of your time often. It is also possible to "teach" them that your family time is valuable and you won't step in as an enabler or parent for them! I liked your example!
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