Thursday, November 05, 2015
So is being an elder worth it?
Southern Hills did ask me to lead them again as one of their shepherds. There are 23 men who agreed to move forward to the affirmation stage of elder selection. There were more than this who were asked to serve but decided not to go to the next stage.
Marsha and I are going through this next stage. It is the one where the congregation prays, asks questions, visits with us... and then decides if they are willing to follow us. So Marsha and I spent some thinking about this question: is being an elder worth it?
It takes a lot of time. Because I am out most weekends preaching, we have to spend most weeknights trying to shepherd. Hospital visits, crisis shepherding, crisis management, prayer times, annointings, meetings, teaching ...
It is hard to manage the guilt sometimes. You always feel like you could -- and should -- do more. You worry about that nagging sense that you ought to talk to someone but you get busy and don't get around to it. Then later find out you missed an opportunity.
It is painful to lose sheep. And sometimes we do. People leave Jesus. They abandon mates and children. Marriages fail. People chase what they believe will make them happy rather than being obedient to God. And even though you warn them, and even though it is ultimately their choice ... it hurts. Sometimes the addictions win. Satan does steal some sheep.
It hurts to see your sheep wounded. Even when repentance is real there is still horrible consequences to sin. It hurts to see your people hurt.
And we have feelings. Sometimes those feelings get hurt. And of course we want people to like us. People leave because they don't get their way. Sometimes they say hurtful things. You make decisions and people say cruel things because they do not agree. Even well meaning people say things that hurt when their needs have not been met. Sometimes they are right and sometimes they are unrealistic, but it hurts.
So why in the world would anyone serve as an elder?
Because of the people that want to follow Jesus.
Because broken marriages get healed. Addictions get broken. Because prayers and annointings lead to healing. And when they do not ... you help your sheep keep their feet on the road to heaven.
Because your flock grows. Because they become more like Jesus.
Because you become more like the Great Shepherd.
Because God called you. Because your people asked you.
Because some day I will get my crown.
So I don't do this to be an elder of a church.
I do this to be a shepherd of my sheep.
People not power or prestige.
So sometimes we cry, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we lose sleep, sometimes fall to our knees. We get to witness God do amazing things.
We commit to getting home. And we bring as many of our flock as we can.
It is who we are. It is what we do.
Marsha and I are going through this next stage. It is the one where the congregation prays, asks questions, visits with us... and then decides if they are willing to follow us. So Marsha and I spent some thinking about this question: is being an elder worth it?
It takes a lot of time. Because I am out most weekends preaching, we have to spend most weeknights trying to shepherd. Hospital visits, crisis shepherding, crisis management, prayer times, annointings, meetings, teaching ...
It is hard to manage the guilt sometimes. You always feel like you could -- and should -- do more. You worry about that nagging sense that you ought to talk to someone but you get busy and don't get around to it. Then later find out you missed an opportunity.
It is painful to lose sheep. And sometimes we do. People leave Jesus. They abandon mates and children. Marriages fail. People chase what they believe will make them happy rather than being obedient to God. And even though you warn them, and even though it is ultimately their choice ... it hurts. Sometimes the addictions win. Satan does steal some sheep.
It hurts to see your sheep wounded. Even when repentance is real there is still horrible consequences to sin. It hurts to see your people hurt.
And we have feelings. Sometimes those feelings get hurt. And of course we want people to like us. People leave because they don't get their way. Sometimes they say hurtful things. You make decisions and people say cruel things because they do not agree. Even well meaning people say things that hurt when their needs have not been met. Sometimes they are right and sometimes they are unrealistic, but it hurts.
So why in the world would anyone serve as an elder?
Because of the people that want to follow Jesus.
Because broken marriages get healed. Addictions get broken. Because prayers and annointings lead to healing. And when they do not ... you help your sheep keep their feet on the road to heaven.
Because your flock grows. Because they become more like Jesus.
Because you become more like the Great Shepherd.
Because God called you. Because your people asked you.
Because some day I will get my crown.
So I don't do this to be an elder of a church.
I do this to be a shepherd of my sheep.
People not power or prestige.
So sometimes we cry, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we lose sleep, sometimes fall to our knees. We get to witness God do amazing things.
We commit to getting home. And we bring as many of our flock as we can.
It is who we are. It is what we do.
Comments:
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I once heard a comment "angel's have no memory, therefore they cannot hold a grudge against anyone". The comment was in reference to a horrible event that a man had done to the angel, later the man needed help from the angel, immediately the angel helped the man in his hour of need. A third party asked the angel why he helped the man after what the man had done to him, hence his reply.
If you did good, not for any reward - but just because it was the correct thing to do, how would your life change?
Do you, or does anyone have to keep score of what you won or lost in the game of life? Is that what christianity is - a scoreborard made by man and his interpertation of the Bible, if so what man is capable of keeping score?
I remember asking you once how would someone know you were a christian if they could not hear, or see you.
Peace
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If you did good, not for any reward - but just because it was the correct thing to do, how would your life change?
Do you, or does anyone have to keep score of what you won or lost in the game of life? Is that what christianity is - a scoreborard made by man and his interpertation of the Bible, if so what man is capable of keeping score?
I remember asking you once how would someone know you were a christian if they could not hear, or see you.
Peace
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