I have carefully considered the topic of this blog and believed it to adequately describe the order of priority that God has put in place for the Christian home to function effectively and efficiently.
Sadly, this topic has not gotten the amount of popularity and widespread audience that it deserves in that, it is swept under the carpet and only discussed often in an underground setting. Post some news about another man of God’s predicament of personal failings and falling into the trap of satanic deception of self validation.
It is very easy to become obsessed with and burdened by the responsibilities of ministry.
The mistake that men and women of God often make is, convincing themselves that ministry was before marriage and children came along, thereby putting a greater level of importance and priority to the work of ministry.
The common phrases I have heard being used by many men of God includes; “It is the work of God that is most important,” “God’s work must come first above all,” “It is my calling, I must continue…”
Whilst some ministers fall in the categories of those that use the words above, others accentuate them by their behaviours and disposition including spending more hours in the church than necessary, carrying out counselling sessions when they are supposed to be with their family and enjoying family bonding.
The aftermath event includes; Pastor kids (PK) and other minister’s children feeling alienated and neglected and subsequently looking outside the home for guidance and seeking to replace the absentee father’s love with drugs, premarital sexual experiences and unholy juvenile relationships. Further side effects could also include; disputes and discord between spouses that eventually lead to fierce and painful divorce and the dissolution of God-ordained marriages.
Spiritual leadership is not necessarily meant to be displayed and demonstrated from the pulpit alone, rather, according to the scriptures. It should actually stem from well-grounded experiences gained from a well-disciplined and spirit-lead life, nourished and nurtured within the family home setting. (1 Tim 3:1-4)
Simply put; a minister has no business on the pulpit or ministering in whatever capacity when their home is on fire. (1 Tim 3:5). No matter how the minister tries to justify their actions, there is absolutely and evidently no biblical basis or backing for this erroneous acts.
The family unit according to the scripture is and should be the minister’s first ministry. It is like one’s first job. For one to be promoted, one must be deemed to be great at handling their current role and responsibilities efficiently in a professional manner before being considered and ultimately qualified to receive promotion which often means more responsibilities.
The minister must be able to carry the burden of work; handle stressful situations and show great prowess in whatever area of work they’ve been placed to oversee. There is absolutely no room for complacency or passivity.
Just like the circular arena and marketplace, spiritual duties and responsibilities are not too dissimilar.
The onus is on the so-called minister to first prove their spiritual fervency, stamina, agility and stability within the confines of their home before rushing to shepherding the flocks.
Even after successfully proving one’s spiritual steadfastness, the minister must continue to maintain spiritual vigilance in ensuring that they are following the examples that Christ himself has set (1 Corinthians 11:1).
A Christian leader must therefore submit and be subjected to the rulership of Christ and recognize the spiritual authorities that God has placed in their lives to nurture and guide them in the path to becoming responsible ministers in the house of God. (Hebrews 13:17).
They must respond to corrections with genuine humility and true repentance of heart.
Attempting to be a lone wolf in ministry is a recipe for failure, utter disaster and complete chaos.
Pride and self-aggrandizement are just one of many issues that can easily creep in and destroy church ministries, subsequently, causing commotion, pandemonium and total havoc in ministers’ home and potentially permanently scattering it into broken pieces.
Above all, the desire to minister should stem from a heart of servitude that is born from a passionate soul that has been transformed by the love of Jesus Christ.
The word of God admonishes us to love our neighbor as ourselves. In reality, the members of our immediate family including; our spouse and children, constitutes as being our immediate neighbors and deserve our first, full undivided commitment, attention and devotion.
It does not make sense trying to hang on to the remains of a ministry when your home is under satanic siege and demonic attack.
Dearest, there is too much at stake here, we cannot afford to risk polluting our ministries, puncturing destinies and encouraging demonically engineered generational vicious re-occurrences or cycles.
The fear of failure in ministry or the desire of fortune are two of the many reasons why many try to hang on to ministry even, while in dire situation which affect their duties at home. This is birthed from the employment of the carnal mind in doing the works of the ministry.
God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) for guidance and direction and also a rewarder of those who lusts after material things, who are ready to use any means necessary to stack up unprofitable gains.
Because your marriage is shaky and your church ministry is flourishing, that does not mean that God is backing you in your blatant rebellion and rejection of God’s principle, direction and instruction.
Moses should serve as a case example for us to really learn from so that we do not fall into the same error of burning our self out, crashing and taking our immediate and church family with us down into anarchy.
The word of God is irrefragable (2 Corinthians 1:20). We must all concur to its dictates.
I pray that every minister that has gotten it wrong, would receive the grace and mercy of God to recover all that has been lost in Jesus name.
Amen.
*Written by David James.*
From you Brother and Sister in Christ,
ln addition:
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