God has called a lot of people and continues to call more into ministry. Although this is encouraging, there is an alarming trend that we see in servants of God who have ‘responded’ to their different callings especially those in full time ministry.
BY own correspondent
This is because many are called but only a few are chosen to become full time preachers of the word. A perfect example is that of Legion as read in Mark 5v18-19.
After his deliverance, he wanted to follow Jesus but Jesus advised him not to follow him but to go and tell people what God had done for him.
Half the time pastors leave their source of livelihood for the sake of the gospel but end up suffering financially because of such uninformed decisions.
Legion’s ministry was not full time.
Let me start by looking at what motivates pastors to enter full time ministry. When Peter met Jesus (Matthew 4v19), he was instructed to leave what he was doing and follow Jesus. He immediately left and because he obeyed and God took care of his needs.
Remember when tax money was needed, Jesus instructed him to go and fish and retrieved tax money from the mouth of a fish.
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This clearly demonstrates that when God instructs you to become a full time church minister, he has provisions to meet your needs.
Pastors get motivated by others who seem to be making it or have made it in full time ministry. Just because someone has made it in full time ministry does not mean you are also going to be as successful. That is why it is important to understand that not all of us are called into full time ministry.
Secondly, there are some pastors that are attracted by the fancy vehicles, suits, houses and flashy lifestyles and think that they will also end up like that.
Thirdly, some pastors get into full time ministry because they have failed everywhere else and find their hope for survival in full time ministry.
With the economic challenges Zimbabwe is facing, there has been an upsurge in the number of people taking up full time ministry work. But there is however some challenges that may affect full time ministry work which may be either positive or negative.
The positive thing about full time ministry is that men of God have more time to connect, resulting in an effective ministry.
These people have also time for the minister to do home visits, hospital visits and attend to many other issues without much hindrance. From a negative perspective, apart from ample time to connect with God and the flock, there seems to be no other positivity’s that can be drawn from being in full time ministry.
Firstly, for a pastor in full-time ministry, I personally feel that there is a danger of having too much idle time which in turn influences your mind to engage in fornication and adultery with the very sheep you are supposed to be shepherding. Secondly, there is a danger of starvation. I have heard of pastors whose children are out of school because they cannot afford to send their children to school. This is one of the reasons why we have pastors’ children who are wild and hate church. When they fail to go to school, starve and have no clothes to wear, these children will hate the church for denying them all these things. There is need to know that as a servant of God you operate in different offices. At home you are a husband and you have a role to provide for your wife, and you are also a father with a responsibility that ensures you send your children to school.
Being a pastor does not exempt one from paying school fees. That is when you find some using unorthodox means of getting money from the flock, a gospel that is not inspired by the Holy Spirit but by the belly.
When hunger starts speaking on the pulpit, all sorts of unheard of doctrines and gimmicks are released. If there are a couple of people supporting the pastor financially and are fornicating or committing adultery, it becomes difficult for the pastor to address such issues because he has to think of his belly first.
This ultimately leads to gospel compromise. Imagine a pastor who is not able to put a roof over his head and is offered accommodation by an adulterous member of the church or by a big-mouthed member of the church. The end result is disastrous and detrimental to the church at large.
Paul, whom I personally consider the greatest apostle of all time, who was highly used by God and wrote 14 epistles of the bible, moved from city to city preaching the gospel and he had this to say in Acts 20 v 33-35 “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
This is a man who could have justifiably left everything he was doing for the cause of the gospel but he realised there was a need to work for his necessities There is need to strike a balance between ministry, family and work. I have been in full-time ministry for the past eight years and I do not regret taking that decision. I however, regret having left my job too soon.
There are things I have failed to achieve as I would have anticipated and responsibilities I have failed to shoulder because of that regrettable decision of resigning from my employment.
Given the opportunity, I would go back to work. But that will not mean I will leave ministerial work. I say that with an emphatic. NO.
This article was motivated by the desire to see a church with a spiritual and physical balance. The views expressed here are personal and may not exactly apply to everyone.
