Dean of Duke University said at one time, 'being in the ministry today is the greatest call in the world--but it is the worst job in the world (meaning most challenging and difficult).
1 Timothy 4:15-16--Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
FOUR GAUGES TO WATCH IN OUR LIVES: Don't forget to watch the gages. We all have a dashboard in our lives just like we have in our car.
#1 - The Spiritual Gauge
Is it well with your soul? Are you walking in intimacy with God? Or has your relationship with God become professional (a working partnership)? Are you comfortable in His presence.
One of the greatest tragedies in the Bible. Samson went out to do battle as before, '...and did not know that the Lord had left him.
Henry Blackaby talked about his walk with God where his success in ministry had become the substitute for real relationship with God. God spoke to him and told him, "Henry...you are hurrying me! You need to slow down and do life with me."
Stats say that the average pastor spends less than 20 mins alone with God per day.
#2 - The Physical Gauge
Are you living like the Temple?
Pastors tend to neglect this area of life. Exercise. Diet. Healthy living. All of these are part of a good investment in God's work in your life.
Keeping in shape lifts your energy, builds enthusiasm, and assists you in maintaining a good perspective in life.
#3 - The Emotional Gauge (dealing with draining circumstances and draining people)
I will not be anxious!
Stats say that the average pastor may deal with 2 or 3 crisis moments a month. After a while it takes a toll on us. If we are not careful we become callous and aloof and we lose our joy and our ability to influence others.
Emotionally draining people tend to draw our attention. Before long we are concentrated on them. Our focus on them actually does more to drain us than anything else.
#4 - The Family Gauge
The most important people in your congregation are your spouse and your children.
Your congregation needs to:
- Allow you to dream impossible dreams.
- Pray for you regularly.
- Treat your family with respect. They need to allow you to take time off, vacations, and time to be with your family.
When I started in ministry I had this idea...H.B. you just build the church and God will take care of your family. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE!
Your primary call is to your family. If you have everything else in ministry, numbers, status, recognition, results, but you lose your family--what good is it? We can never allow our involvement to destroy our most important relationships.
What about the Check Engine Light? It comes on when...
- When you begin to look for short-cuts and compromises in your ministry and life.
- Not giving adequate time to Bible Study and prayer.
- When you avoiding time with kids and spouse
- When you allow inappropriate material on your computer.
- When you begin to cut corners in your integrity or in your financial dealings.
When we see the warning signs on the dashboard, we need to take it very seriously and make sure that we are guarding the health of our lives.
2 comments:
Thanks for this post Jeff. The four gages are very insightful and helpful. Sounds like it was a great session. Wish we could have been there...but it's quite a drive from Central Europe! Thanks for making it possible for me, and other missionaries, to be a part of our district's Minister's Enrichment.
I went a 64 Fellowship conference this past weekend May 18 and 19, 2012 to Indianapolis. Pastor H.B. London was one of the keynote speakers at the conference. He did a phenomenal job in all his talks. However, this particular talk, "Watching your gauges," he held during the pastors and their spouses luncheon was so practical and an affirmation of what I have been doing for the last two years in my ministry that I felt I have been on the right track. I call this, "Soul Care." And I have been encouraging the men I am mentoring to do the same.
I thank God for spiritual mentors who have always reminded me to monitor my gauges. PTL
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