Scripture
But now, when may I do something for my own household?” Genesis 30:30
But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31
Observation
For ministry to work well a pastor must place himself second so that the needs of his congregation can come first. If he is worthy to be called a shepherd, in lean times he will ensure that all the church’s bills are paid first and he is paid last. Again if he is shepherd material, when the church has no meeting place his need for a home comes second and the shelter of the church comes first. God does not require that of everyone, but if a leader can put the needs of others first it is a sure sign to him that he is worthy to be called “pastor”. A shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Jacob was a great shepherd and servant. He worked for 14 years for his uncle with a slide rule pay scale. His wages were changed 10 times, yet he still cared for a flock that was not his own. He wanted the best for the sheep. Yet as a young man in his early 30′s he wanted to provide for his family. Jacob spoke the words many pastors are afraid to voice, “When may I do something for my own household?”
Is there anything wrong with a shepherd’s desire to provide for his own family? No, so long as it is accomplished in the way Jesus designed for a spiritual leader’s personal needs to be met. Here’s the secret: “Seek his kingdom, and all of these things will be given to you as well.”
At age 21 my ambition in life was to own property, a Mercedes Benz and to be financially secure. But then my plans were messed up with a call to shepherd people. The collision point was in a holiday house on little Coochie Island off Australia’s coast. On the bookshelf was the biography of Hudson Taylor. As a medical apprentice he lived by total faith in God to supply his finances so he could be ready to live as a missionary. At one point he was owed wages from the doctor, but he would not ask for them from his employer because he wanted to trust God alone to supply for him. Taylor wanted, as he said, to be “worthy of China.” His prayer was answered, the money came in time, and my world was rattled.
That night Fred and Ivy Maddison, a retired pastor, invited me for dinner. Fred had been a stage commedian before he found Christ under the preaching of Billy Graham. He became a pastor and ended his days caring for the only church on the island. He was called by the locals, “The Bishop of Coochie” and was loved by all on the island.
In their humble house over a steaming meal, Fred and Ivy told me of their conversion, call to ministry and the joy of trusting God to supply their needs. What they said about money was hard enough for me to hear, but the fact that they were so happy about simplicity and trusting God made me nervous. The next day while reading more of Hudson Taylor, I threw the book down and went for a 360 degree walk around the little island’s shore. On a point of sand I made a decision, from that day forward I would put my needs second and God’s people first.
Years went by. Fred and Ivy needed to move back to the mainland to be nearer to medical care, but they could not afford a home. Then came a call. Years before they had given hospitality to a young man and let him stay in their home for a few months. He had become a wealthy businessman. He had heard of their plight and bought for them a home for them to live in for the rest of their days.
When the kingdom-first call of Jesus gets tiresome I remember Fred and Ivy. There was one constant in their lives: their needs were met.
Application
Can I do something for my household? Absolutely, but for the pastor the way is indirect. Care for the needs of others first and in some surprising way your own needs will be met as well.
Prayer
Father, promises that are familiar should be easy to keep, but each day there are new ways of application that are more difficult to embrace. The call to trust you is not over until you say “well done”. So I embrace again what you asked me to do 25 years ago. Kingdom first; self second. That is the safest way to live. Amen.
