I love pastors, I’m one of them. There is nothing else in the world I would rather do with my life then serve God and the people He allows me to reach. Like every body else, pastors and pastor’s wives sometimes experience intense times of temptations. One of the biggest temptations pastors and pastor’s wives face is the lie that life and ministry is better elsewhere.
If I/we were in a bigger or better Church/City/Environment I would use my gifts or flourish in the ministry
Too many pastors and their wives let the dust settle on their gifts and calling when they find themselves in a not so “ideal place.” Instead of working with God, they sit back and fold their arms throwing pity parties and complaining all through their tenure. By the time they get to the end of their ministry in those “not so ideal places,” they come to a sad reality that they’ve wasted all their years doing nothing, learning nothing and accomplishing nothing.
Somebody is going to have to break it to them one of these days. Maybe it’s today! If you are looking for a comfortable place to serve the Lord; the convenience that comes to those who serve in a king’s palace, you may be in the wrong line of work.
Thing is, God is not even concerned about making you comfortable. He is more concerned about a lost and dying world. And the thing that breaks His heart the most, is the attitude of a servant of His who’s more in love with an ‘ideal place’ to serve, rather than with the plight of a lost a dying world.
When will the sacrifice of “those who did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” move you? When will the ministry of those gone before you – those who gave up everything just for you to hear about the Love and mercy of Jesus – mean anything to you? What is it going to take – to break your heart for the people, community and region you serve? When are you going to allow God to manifest His glory through your life and ministry?
These are questions we must all answer every day.
Let me leave you with this thought from Jim Elliot. I want you to think hard about it:
“Wherever you are, be ALL there.”
Are you all you can be for the Lord where He’s has placed you? Join the conversation.
Walter Bright 
Among my favorite quotes from J.E. We have too few pastors, preachers, and missionaries like him and the First-Century disciples.
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Excellent post Walter. While there are some places we’re better off leaving, that is the exception. The problem is rarely with our context or place. Our discontent is usually a call to deeper faith, better skills, and improved relationships. Our constant moving can be a spiritual plateau that will only be resolved through staying.
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Dave, I love your comment – especially this line: “the problem is rarely with our context or place. Our discontent is usually a call to deeper faith.” oh that is good!
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Amen.
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Very Inspiring! Our God is faithful. Blessings to you. Carolyn
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If we are faithful, He will remain faithful
If we are faithless, He will remain faithful.
God knows how to take care of His own.
David declared, “I once was young and now I am old, but I have not seen a righteous person forsaken or his children begging for bread.”
Give you all to the Lord right where you are… He will meet your every need.
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It’s a daily challenge, but yes, my desire is – “Wherever [I am, to], be ALL there.”
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I pray we all hear the Lord’s call to come. If we will ,then he will if we allow change us into his image. Funny thing though Walter we forget how much we need him, every hour of every day.
We want to do it ourselves. Pride gets in the way. There was a angel like that. He thought even though God could hear and see him no matter were he went. That he still could deceive God and rise above God.
Self and to much ambition, without real faith and trusting the one that created him and us got him on trouble and will us to. I wonder what it was that satan feared.
That holds true for man to. If we are not careful, we will begin to fear also. It’s always a reflection of our need.
I really enjoyed this post of yours. Amazing grace that always will bring us back to God, if we will allow.
Blessings to you
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It blows my mind too, of quickly we forget that “we can only live and move and find our being in Him.” I thank Him for His patience and relentless pursuit.
Thank for the comment…
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