I’m
about to say something crazy, but it’s true.
It’s
not the usual way of thinking, but it’s God’s way, so listen up.
If
your church has a total of a hundred people including one pastor,
then your pastor should be doing one percent of the work of that
church.
Pause.
Think
about it.
Let
me say it again. If your church has a total of a hundred people
including one pastor, then your pastor should be doing one percent of
the work of that church.
Did
you just spit up a little?
I’m
telling you, this is the way the body of Christ is designed to work.
We each have a vital part in the body, and we each need to fulfill
our part.
Now
you might be thinking, “That’s the pastor’s full time job. I
have to go to work everyday. I can’t be doing the same amount of
church work as the pastor. That’s ridiculous!”
That’s
true...IF you have pigeon-holed the work of the church into, like, 5
duties that a pastor does. Forget about that.
The
question is, are you fulfilling your part in the body of Christ? You
have a unique part, with unique giftings and callings from God
Himself. And your part in the body is your part in the body, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
The
pastor has HIS part in the body, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
EVERY BELIEVER has their part in the body, 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Are
you fulfilling your part in the body? If everyone in your local
congregation of one hundred people is fulfilling their part in the
body, then each person is doing one percent of the work of that local
congregation.
Don’t
pigeon-hole God’s work into the, like, 10 jobs that you think of as
“church work.” God’s work is the work of His entire body,
which is explosively loaded with gifts and callings, the vast
majority of which never see the light of day.
“But
Doug, I can’t be doing all that church work. I have to go to work,
and look after my kids, and take a little time just to enjoy life,
you know.”
Yes,
I know. And more importantly, God knows. He created you. He knows
EXACTLY, PRECISELY WHAT YOU NEED. He put inside of every
believer
just what you need in the form of His Holy Spirit. He has gifted you
and called you; and your most fulfilling, abundant life will come
when you fulfill your part in the body of Christ.
Now
the title of this lesson is, “Neither Boredom Nor Burnout.” Many
Christians go sailing off in one of those two directions.
First,
boredom. My daughter told me the
other
day, “I think so many Christians are drinking alcohol today because
they are bored.” What? If you tap into the Holy Spirit and all
that God has for you, boredom will go flying out the window.
Fulfilling your part in the body of Christ will be the most exciting
adventure you have ever been on, if you will just take the time to
diligently seek God and let His Spirit lead you.
Second,
burnout. Many Christians will hear a message like this, get fired
up, and dive head first into church work, doing everything that comes
their way.
Listen.
I’m telling you to seek God and fulfill YOUR PART in the body of
Christ – and that’s not anyone else’s part. You can’t do
anyone else’s part. When you try to do your part and other
people’s parts in the body, you will burn out. Then you can drop
out altogether and say, “I got burned out in church.” Don’t
fall for it.
But
when you truly follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to
understand and follow and fulfill YOUR part in the body, then you
will not
burn out.
Pastors
who are overwhelmed? You are likely trying to fulfill several parts
in the body that aren’t yours, which you cannot do.
Deacons
or elders or teachers or whatever who are getting burned out in
church – you are probably doing more than you are called and gifted
to do. You need to fulfill your part in the body, no more (that
leads to burnout) and no less (that leads to boredom).
So
I close with the shocking line I opened with, and I’ll leave you to
pray about it and seek God.
If
your church has a total of a hundred people including one pastor,
then your pastor should be doing one percent of the work of that
church.
I’m
Doug Apple.
