sacrifice. Many of our larger churches are filled with men who have a calling on their lives, yet they are satisfied to sit and soak in the blessings instead of heading into the harvest.The problem that I see is two-fold…
First of all, these “ministers” that will not minister come in two general categories.
1. Spotlight Seekers: Somewhere along the road these men got the impression that their calling is all about the pulpit and not about people. They are performers instead of pioneers.
2. Comfort Seekers: These men refuse to leave their comfort zone. Either from fear of failure or pure selfishness they cower in the safety of their comfort.
Second of all, many pastors refuse to release these men. They would rather have a “saint” in the pew than send a laborer into the harvest.
1. We as pastors need to be actively training young men for the harvest. When we do, we will multiply our own ministry hundreds of times over.
2. We need to be investing our young men into other places. Send them to a home missions work with their expenses paid, to encourage that pastor; start a daughter work; a preaching point; or raise funds for them to get practical experience as an AIMer (associate in missions).
3. We must refuse to be selfish.
4. We must refuse to allow ministers to be satisfied to sit. Pastors should push, prod, and preach them into the harvest.
It is a tragedy when fishermen refuse to fish. All around us we have a lost and dying world. Cities full of hungry people pray for a man with a burden to come.
I recently heard of a church with approximately 20 people, land, and a building that could not find a pastor for over three years. Now, another pastor in the area has picked up their burden and is pastoring these hungry people on an interim basis. It is so sad when men would rather languish away on a pew than be active in the harvest in a place like this.
Matt 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
