Reflection - Pitfalls in Christian Ministry - Part 1
In my journey with the Lord, I observed that Christian leaders are more prone to shortcomings than the average believer. Luke 12:48 - and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. It is not the rigors of the law that the leaders have problems with. Usually those things that the average believer takes seriously are often taken lightly by the leaders. These are the things that preachers very often pound from the pulpits but often lacks luster in the preacher himself. On the surface we are the best, in terms of ministry and family but there are many inner issues that need to be resolved. I found these to be true in my own life.
Contentment with partial achievement
After a while, we think that we have done more than our fare share In fact we think we have done more than the others, in terms of the ministry and we often pride about it. We have established churches, have a good congregation, good outreach work and that is great. The tendency then is to take a break and go into maintenance mode. I think David was in that precarious situation when he was up on the balcony when his soldiers were down in the battle field. The rest is history. We cannot stop until we have fully accomplished the task given to us by our Lord.
God's instruction to the children of Israel concerning the heathen nations in Duet 7:2 was "you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy." However we read in Joshua 17:13 - Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. The leaders may have thought that they had already achieved the major objectives of the military campaign. Using forced labor makes good economic sense. It is to our advantage. But we know the consequences of such actions. Judges 2:3 - they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
King Saul is another case in point. Samuel's words to Saul was 1 Samuel 15: 3 - Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys. Saul however was contended with partial accomplishment. 1 Samuel 15:15 - they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” God's response in verse 19 was - Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?” It was seen as evil. Saul tried frantically to justify what he did by saying "Yes I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” The verdict in verse 23 - Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” What a sombre warning! Partial accomplishment in this case removed Saul from his office.
May God help us that we will not glory in our past achievements or do leave work half done. Let us complete the task given to us so that one day we too can say,"It is finished."
Contentment with partial achievement
After a while, we think that we have done more than our fare share In fact we think we have done more than the others, in terms of the ministry and we often pride about it. We have established churches, have a good congregation, good outreach work and that is great. The tendency then is to take a break and go into maintenance mode. I think David was in that precarious situation when he was up on the balcony when his soldiers were down in the battle field. The rest is history. We cannot stop until we have fully accomplished the task given to us by our Lord.
God's instruction to the children of Israel concerning the heathen nations in Duet 7:2 was "you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy." However we read in Joshua 17:13 - Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. The leaders may have thought that they had already achieved the major objectives of the military campaign. Using forced labor makes good economic sense. It is to our advantage. But we know the consequences of such actions. Judges 2:3 - they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
King Saul is another case in point. Samuel's words to Saul was 1 Samuel 15: 3 - Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys. Saul however was contended with partial accomplishment. 1 Samuel 15:15 - they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” God's response in verse 19 was - Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?” It was seen as evil. Saul tried frantically to justify what he did by saying "Yes I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” The verdict in verse 23 - Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” What a sombre warning! Partial accomplishment in this case removed Saul from his office.
May God help us that we will not glory in our past achievements or do leave work half done. Let us complete the task given to us so that one day we too can say,"It is finished."
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