Presidents age poorly. This post on U.S. presidents before and after their terms reveals what we all know. The weight of running a country impacts you. Take a look at George HW Bush after just four years. Barack Obama had nary a grey hair when he entered office. When he left, he had a lot more salt than pepper.

Leadership isn’t easy. We pastors are called to keep watch over the sheep, prepared to give an account to God for their care. That is a heavy responsibility. Many (my former self included) aspire to leadership, not recognizing the burden that comes with caring for people. Many people are hard to lead. They disengage, they wander, they chafe at correction, and they demand that their preferences are met.

Not all church members are hard to lead, though. Some of you make leading easy. I treasure you.

The author of Hebrews has an interesting word to the church he is writing to. He says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb 13:17). Did you catch that last part, “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you”?

To whom is that comment directed? I’ve always read it as an encouragement to leaders to lead with joy and not groaning or grumbling. I think that’s true. We must lay our anxieties and frustrations as leaders before God and let him carry them. The flock is God’s, not ours, and so we must trust him with those who are difficult. To have our joy sapped by challenging congregants is to reveal the idol of control in our hearts. I have been and continue to be convicted by these words.

I recently heard this preached as an admonition to congregants as well. That had me returning to the text, and sure enough. It’s right there. “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb 13:17).

The more I read it, the more I was convinced: this admonition is primarily to congregants. There is a responsibility that congregants bear for their pastors to lead with joy and not with groaning. Now, clearly, it is not a congregant’s responsibility for their pastor’s ingratitude. Nor is it their responsibility to make sure that their pastor doesn’t have idols of the heart that would lead him to grumbling. But there is an invitation to be a congregant who steps into church life with a heart of submission and care for your leaders.

This had me reflecting on the church members who make leading them a joy. There are so many of you. Thank you so much for making it a joy to serve as your pastor.

How have you made ministry a joy? Here are a few of those ways:

·       You told me about specific ways that sermons have impacted you.

·       You shared how blog posts have convicted you.

·       You’ve served faithfully.

·       You took next steps to connect into community.

·       You faithfully showed up.

·       You give generously and regularly to the regular needs of the church.

·       You loved one another.

·       You invited a friend to church.

·       You overlooked my sin.

·       You confronted me lovingly when I offended you.

·       You prayed for New Life.

·       You prayed for me and my family.

·       You made us meals when we were in isolation with Covid.

·       You visited fellow members of the body in the hospital.

·       You dreamed about what God could do through New Life and shared those dreams.

·       You sang loudly.

·       You showed up early.

·       You stayed late and set up for the next event.

·       You shared a sermon on social media.

·       You served joyfully.

·       You served in an area of your unique gifting.

·       You served in an area of need outside of your gifting.

·       You prayed for New Life’s ministries.

·       You let me fail.

·       You gave the church a 5-star rating on Google or elsewhere.

·       You set aside your preferences.

·       You grieved with me in times of loss.

·       You sent me a gift card.

·       You gave generously above and beyond to special needs.

Thank you so much, great church members. I respect you. I honor you. I love you. You, dear friends, are a joy. Thank you for helping make my ministry a joy.

 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash