This is my appeal to my fellow laborers in the harvest of heaven. Our primal goal is to be servants of the people for God’s sake. As much as I am trying to defend the ministers, I must also (sadly) admit that we have shot ourselves in the foot; people have a right to question our motives because many of us are responsible for the embarrassing things that happen inside our church buildings. One example is that church leadership has become big business these days. Pastors are even passing on leadership roles to their family members because, to them, God’s people have become assets that you can make a career out of, invest in and pass it to your children. Gone are the days when a Pastor was just a humble servant whose job was to faithfully shepherd God’s people and die in peace.
Let’s bring back that virtue, dear comrades. This is our job. Our calling is not to be served by the people but to serve them, just as the good Lord, rapped a towel, stooped down and washed the feet of His followers. To use the Hebrews 13 language, we must watch over the souls of those whom God has entrusted to us, because we will give account. The scariest parable for me as a Gospel minister is found somewhere in Matthew 24, which narrates the story of a Master who went away for a long time, living a servant to take care of His people. Then something got into that servant’s heart and he began to beat those he was supposed to care for. Can you believe it? I will only let you imagine what the Master did to that wicked steward when He came back. Question to me and to you my Pastor, how are you treating those good people that belong to the One who loves them? How do you talk to them; are you shepherding the flock of God that He purchased with His blood, or you are abusing and dominating them because you are trying to build your empire on top of their bones? (1 Pet 5:1-4). Can you imagine how God’s people are so trusting and so respectful of their ministers? And the least we can do is to return that favour by genuinely caring for their souls, not to take advantage of their respect.
As a side note, let me say, God’s minister must never worry about his finances until he threatens people to give. In fact, I am reminded of many instances where Pastors have refused to give the Word because the offering money wasn’t enough. [You cannot believe some of the painful things we have endured inside these churches]. Instead, once as a leader, you set your heart to humbly and fearfully serve those entrusted to you; with or without support, they will notice your good heart and they will gladly submit, support and even give their lives for you. Is that not good?
Sometimes I complain about my ministry being too small, forgetting of course, how blessed I am to have already ministered to so many people, for so many years, in many churches, funerals, the internet and even streets. Oh, how prideful have I become because of it! Thinking myself to be “the special servant of God” – big mistake! Our duty as Pastors, Evangelist and Teachers is not self-promotion, shiny suits and deep English – none of that. Have you noticed that in many African churches that you enter today, you will find a big picture of the senior Pastor and his wife in the background? Does being a founder of a church mean that we have to keep viewing your portrait on the wall? No friends, that is not what John meant when he said, “I must decrease that He may increase.” Sorry, it’s not about you dear minister. Every gift that the Holy Spirit has given you, is not for you. It’s for others; His people; their salvation and sanctification. Therefore, we are servants of the people! Our ministry is to join Brother John the Baptist and become only friends of the bridegroom (John 3:29-30). We take the bride, prepare her and humbly lead her to the Owner, Christ Himself. No one can ever be compared to Paul the great Apostle in terms of ministry, yet this man only wanted people to regard him and Apollos as the douloi (slaves) of the Most High; boasting with titles was not so important to him. “What do you have that you have not received, and if you have received it, why then do you boast?” (1 Cor 4:7).
This servanthood must not be only limited to the church house, but it must overflow to the outside world. Worldly people are already tired of liars, cheats, scammers, thieves, hypocrites and everything else. It would be good if Christian ministers like us took the initiative and showed people who have never been to church what it feels like to meet an honest, patient, kind and loving somebody. As Pastor Erwin Lutzer said, “The world can outdo us in many things but let them not outlove us.” This is what we need, the very thing that is missing today.
Oh, how I pray that the Lord would do away with lazy ministers who are only concerned with being honored by the people while doing nothing to deserve that honor. How I wish that God would close all the churches where God’s sheep are skinned alive to feed the bellies of those wolves and deceivers. Oh how I dream that the good Lord would raise up a new generation of servants, who are so in love with Christ, hence would gladly give their lives for His sheep, pray for them, feed them, protect them and live to see them saved and mature in the knowledge of their Saviour. I will leave you with these heartfelt words from my favorite preacher, Paul Washer, he says, “Live your life in solitude crying out to God; live your life on your knees; live your life with your Bible torn asunder; live your life for the people of God – to be able to present to them the beauties of what He is; the glory His Cross. And in doing so, they will love Him, and they will worship Him!”
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sinothi Ncube
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