Continuing from the last episode;
- IDLE PASTORS CANNOT BE FAT IN THE KINGDOM
Many ministers will not sweat out their assignment, so they never taste the sweetness of ministry. This is why members have come to see pastors as people with little or no work to do, except to conduct weekly prayer meeting/bible study and Sunday services. They call their pastor at 8a.m, and the man of God is fast asleep. One pastor told me pointedly that he does not wake up before 11.00am. On any working day. Alter all, his members were still at work. They only needed his services in the evening time. Prov. 12:11, He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. When a man of God is still in his pyjamas at 11.00am and is blowing tongues. This is why he will live to beg at evening time. One pastor told me, it is not by hardwork but by grace that we do ministry. True. But Jesus also said in Luke 10:7; The labourer is worthy of his wages. Ministry is not for the idle. An idle minister will end up as a beggar. The basis of increase is output. II Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any man would not work, neither should he eat. If a pastor does not work he will not eat. I find my self spending 17 hours labouring in my library in preparation for our mid week bible study. I resume at my desk, in my study, at 8.00a.m. and close by 1.OOa.m. My wife is my witness. I appear for each of our three Sunday services, at a time, with 32 page sermon outline, even though I know I will only spend 50 minutes,at most, per service. I don't have too much gifts and talents, so I work hard on the few that I have. It is your work that determines your worth.
- DEMONS AND CURSES CAN LIMIT A PASTOR.
Certain calamities, problems and . situations repeat themselves With uncommon accuracy in the life of some ministers. In some cases, people they have laboured over hardly ever remember them. Their messages and ministries are not accepted by those they have been sent to. Demonic activities may be at work. Serious warfare prayers are needed to stop these. Curses from seniors and mentors can frustrate the ministry of their victims. Cases in point are the ministry of Pastor Gehazi, General Joab and Prophet Demas. They mistreated their leaders and they inherited a curse for it. Sir, how did you leave your former place of service? What have you been saying and doing behind your leaders? There may be the need to go back to these fathers and seniors with peace offerings and make restitutions, where necessary.
- SOME PASTORS’ DREAMS ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A FINANCIAL MIRACLE
Common pastors set common goals. Uncommon achievers set uncommon goals. Several pastors, in fact 95%, consider mere survival a success. All their focus is to pay house rent, believe God for a car or at least put a roof on their heads, provide food on the table and pay their children school fees. These pastors have no plans to feed the hungry or put Bibles into a million homes. If a pastor's dream can be contained in a matchbox, people will use match sticks to measure his dream. If pastors" allow God to get involved with their dream, He becomes the ONLY means to achieve it.
- SOME PASTORS BELIEVE THEIR FINANCIAL BLESSINGS DEPEND ON THEIR CONGREGATION AND ON THEIR LOVED ONES. Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the LORD.”
God wants to be trusted. He will not give His glory to another. God is the source that put favor in the heart of Portiphar towards Joseph. He is the one who reminded the butler to tell Pharaoh about the gifts of interpretation in Joseph. It is not the giving of church members that determines a pastors’ income, it is our giving that will determine our income.
- SPENDING TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES IN MINISTRY
- SOME PASTORS NEVER ASK FOR SPECIFIC FINANCIAL BLESSING. Some Pastors are poor because they try to equal the purchase level of more financially secured ministers. Spending and shopping with ministers and preachers who spend thousands of dollars in the high fashion exclusive stores is unnecessary burden. You don’t need to spend according to your level‘ of exposure or ministry upgrades. Peer pressure has pressed several Pastors below poverty line.
Matt. 7:7-8. “Ask, and it shall begiven you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asleeth receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Many Pastors desire money. Many Pastors wish for more money. Many Ministers dream about more money. But they have never understood the power of asking. Many Pastors never ask for financial wisdom, they depend on their common sense and their own intelligence.
17. LACK OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE.
18. PASTORS WHO REMAIN IN MINISTRY AND DO NOTHING TO IMPROVE THEMSELVESPastors with low esteem and low tolerance for financial pressure can never be rich. Common habits found among struggling poor Pastors is dipping hands into savings to pay bills. The rich Pastors know that savings are only used to create more money and not to pay bills.95% of Pastors minister to earn a living. The 5% that can be regarded as rich are working to learn for living. Rich pastors are rich because:
- They know the key result areas of their assignment.
- They set standards of performance for each result area.
- They invest in their personal growth and skill development.
- They dedicate themselves to working every day to meet those standards.
19. WRONG BELIEVE SYSTEMS.
20. PASTORS WHO DON'T GO FOR GOOD ADVICE. Some Pastors believe that it is not the will of God for them to prosper. Some pastors don’t want to be labeled as prosperity preachers. Pro. 12:15 (Living) A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others. These twenty reasons have made many ministers poor. Ministry has become misery for several. Christian work has become a source of worry for several. Ecc. 10:15. The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Rev. Albert O. Aina - Chief Executive Officer, Christian Leadership Skills Inc.
Senior Pastor, Saabo Foursquare Gospel Church. 08023010696 | www.christianleadershipskills.com