I was reading my usual blog posts this morning when one stuck with me. It is
titled "Not Stars but Servants" It is written by Ray Van Neste and you can
read the post here,
I have also added the post below.
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as
the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the
growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God
who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will
receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers.
You are God's field, God's building.” (Paul, 1 Cor 3:5-9)
“The Church does not need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of
Jesus and the brethren. Not in the former but in the latter is the lack.”
(D. Bonhoeffer, Life Together.)
“Preachers are not celebrities and Christians are not to act like groupies.”
(Tom Ascol)
This is a key point for those of us who lead in God’s church. It is a wicked
thing for the servant of the groom to seduce the affections of the bride.
I just came across an essay by Geoff Thomas which addresses this. It is
entitled, “Find a Place to Settle,” and is contained in Dear Timothy:
Letters on Pastoral Ministry, ed. Tom Ascol (Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press,
2004). In this quote below Thomas provides an extended quote from Dr. James
Stalker on his experience watching a man who had had such an extended
ministry.
“It was my happiness, when I was ordained, to be settled next… to an aged
and saintly minister. He was a man of competent scholarship, and had the
reputation of having been in early life a powerful and popular preacher. But
it was not to these gifts that he owed his unique influence. He moved
through the town, with his white hair and somewhat staid and dignified
demeanour, as a hallowing presence. His very passing in the street was a
kind of benediction, and the people, as they looked after him, spoke of him
to each other with affectionate veneration, children were proud when he laid
his hand on their heads, and they treasured the kindly words which he spoke
to them. At funerals and other seasons of domestic solemnity his presence
was sought by people of all denominations. We who labored along with him in
the ministry felt that his mere existence in the community was an
irresistible demonstration of Christianity and a tower of strength to every
good cause. Yet he had not gained this position of influence by brilliant
talents or great achievements or the pushing of ambition; for he was
singularly modest, and would have been the last to credit himself with half
the good he did. The whole mystery lay in this, that he had lived in the
town for forty years a blameless life, and was known, by everybody to be a
godly and prayerful man. He was good enough to honour me with his
friendship; and his example wrote deeply upon my mind these two
convictions-that it may sometimes be of immense advantage to spend a whole
life time in a single pastorate, and that the prime qualification for the
ministry is godliness.”
The man to whom he was referring was a certain James Black of Dunnikier and
little more than that paragraph of Stalker’s is known of the man or even the
place where he labored. Dunnikier is too small to appear in any British
atlas. Black was one that army of holy men who have served the Lord in
obscure communities modestly and humbly for no reward other than the immense
privilege of having so great a Master as our Christ. (pp. 363-364)
May we see more of this sort of ministry.
The Pastor is a Servant! As I continue to study the office of Elder I am
constantly reminded that the biblical Elder must be a servant. We must
follow the example of the Chief Shepard, Jesus who says that He came not to
be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28)!
Alexander Strauch says in his book The Biblical Elder, "James instructs sick
members of the flock to call for the elders of the church: "Is anyone among
you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James. 5:14). Paul
exhorts the Ephesian elders to care for the weak and needy of the flock: "In
everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help
the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It
is more blessed to give than to receive’ " (Acts 20:35; italics added).
As shepherds of the flock, the elders must be available to meet the sheep’s
needs. This responsibility includes: visiting the sick and comforting the
bereaved; strengthening the weak; praying for all the sheep; visiting new
members; providing counsel for couples who are engaged, married, and/or
divorcing; and managing the many, day-to-day details related to the inner
life of the congregation.
Hard Work and Sacrifice: When the church eldership is viewed as a status or
board position in the church, there will be plenty of volunteers. When it is
viewed as a demanding, pastoral work, few people will rush to volunteer. One
reason there are so few shepherd elders or good church elderships is that,
generally speaking, men are spiritually lazy. That is a major reason why
most churches never establish a biblical eldership. Men are more than
willing to let someone else fulfill their spiritual responsibilities,
whether it be their wives, the clergy, or church professionals."
Elders must be willing to serve where needed in the local church. The title
of Elder doesn't exempt anyone from any duty! It does the total opposite. It
calls them to serve the church wherever there is a need. I have heard some
say "well that is not my calling!" If you are called to be an elder then you
are called to serve!
I pray that the Lord will raise up faithful servants to continue to serve
His church and plant new churches as we follow the Spirit and jump in where
He is working!
PK
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