The BEST books written on the role of a pastor/church leader (in my opinion) are I & II Timothy and Titus.
One of the verses that has always stood out to me when reading through these letter is II Timothy 2:15, it is literally a verse I can’t get out of my mind.
I am trying to ask myself six questions based on this verse…
#1 - Am I giving God my absolute best?
The first three words are both challenging AND convicting…DO YOUR BEST! (God makes is VERY clear about how He feels about leftovers in Malachi 1:6-14!)
There are times as a church leader I am tempted to cruise…to make the easy decision instead of the right one…to get out of the meeting rather than deal with the problem…to let things slide rather than hurt someone’s feelings.
BUT…as a church leader God has called me to honor Him by giving Him my absolute best…and that means going the extra mile in every single area of my life.
(MARRIAGE NOTE: We are in a marriage series here at NewSpring Church…and one of the reasons I believe marriages fail is because couples refuse to give God and one another their absolute best…just a thought!)
#2 - Am I More Concerned About God Or Others?
Scripture is very clear, “Do your best to present yourself to God…”
When “the end” is here I will stand before God and will NOT answer as to…
- Whether or not I kept people happy.
- Whether or not I appeased the bloggers.
- Whether or not I preached sermons that people WANTED to hear.
I will answer for whether or not I was faithful to WHO He called me to be and WHAT He called me to do!
I have a quote hanging in my office by Craig Groeschel that says, “The quickest way to forget what God says about me is to become obsessed with what others say about me.”
SO TRUE!
When my head hits the pillow at night I’ve got to know that I have tried my best to honor HIM and HIS calling on my life…which IS NOT EASY in a world where everyone seems to have an opinion and a website!
BUT…focusing on them doesn’t allow me to focus on Him! (BTW…it isn’t helping you either!!!)
Paul said it best in Galatians 1:10…we have a choice…I have made mine and will not look back…there is way too much at stake!