Love Your Pastor Well

How well do you know your pastor? The apostle Paul instructed us to ‘acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

After having served as a Lead Pastor for over 35 years, I can honestly say that I loved being a pastor. It’s deeply fulfilling to immerse yourself in the Word and preach your heart out on Sunday. It is intensely rewarding to share in life’s most significant moments with those under your spiritual care. It’s awesome to see God use your gifts to transform lives and build the Kingdom. It’s exciting to see your congregation mobilized to join Jesus on the front lines of His redemptive mission. 

But being a pastor is also a very weighty responsibility. Peter Drucker, the leadership guru, once hypothesized that the four hardest jobs in the world are to be President, lead a university, administrate a medical facility, or serve as a church pastor. Some church members seem to think that being a pastor is a peachy job…after all, you get to set your own schedule and only have to show up on Sunday. 

Trust me, being a pastor is a 24/7 obsession. It’s the agony and ecstasy. As a pastor, you eat and breathe ministry. Your work is never done. It’s un-relenting. Sundays are always a-coming. To many church members, a pastor’s success and value are measured in plates and pews, decisions and baptisms. If the numbers are up, all is well. If the numbers are down, all is… well…let’s just say, not good. There’s a lot of pressure to perform!

Yes, being a pastor is an awesome privilege, but it’s also one of the hardest jobs in the world. 

So… love your Pastor well!