Seeking the Lord in Vocational Ministry
A brief exchange at a Sunday school convention becomes a lasting reminder: spiritual leadership is demanding, but it can also become consuming. This reflection challenges ministers to examine whether their work has replaced the Lord’s leadership and whether “seeking the Lord” is truly first.
- Vocational ministry carries unique pressures that many church members don’t fully see.
- Some leaders confuse calling with personal needs, control, or crowd approval.
- Healthy ministry requires remembering who is truly in charge.
By Mark A. Taylor
The African American woman eased herself gently into a folding chair in the row just behind me. We were there early for the Sunday school convention workshop I was about to lead.
We introduced ourselves, and she asked me about my work. When I told her something of my duties here at Standard Publishing, she said, “My, oh my, you must surely need to seek the Lord when you’ve got a ministry like that.”
She meant it as a compliment to me and to the Lord. But I mumbled some reply and turned away, chastened. I knew I had sought the Lord far too little in my ministry.
The Demands of Vocational Ministry
That was years ago, but for some reason I thought of the incident again as I read Tim Harlow’s first “Reflections” column, published this week. He indicates the intense nature of ministry when he writes, “You don’t punch a time clock and go home in this job.”
He speaks of the pain and the uncertainties of spiritual leadership. He assumes what some church members never fully realize: vocational ministry is unlike most other ways to earn a living.
Do ministers “seek the Lord” more than other Christians? Should they?
We tend to view them differently than other men. We say they needn’t be perfect, but our impatience with their shortcomings makes many ministers try to hide them.
We can’t arrange crises to happen on schedule. So we’ve been grateful when a minister has counseled with us for hours, prayed with us before a morning surgery, or answered when we called in the night. We’re glad they don’t punch a clock.
When Ministry Becomes Consuming
And yet some ministers too many today, I fear are not only invested in their ministries but consumed by them.
Some serve because they need to be needed.
Many can’t thrive without the praise of the crowd.
Some control too much, some squelch opposition, some too seldom seek counsel.
Saddest, perhaps, are those who have no life outside of their work and don’t know how to retire from it, even when those all around them know they should.
Some hide their tragic dysfunctions behind God talk about “sacrifice” or “calling.” They believe they “seek the Lord” without realizing how often their ministry fulfills their own needs first.
I wish I had talked longer with the woman at the workshop. She probably should have led a session at that convention.
Possible topics: “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” or “You’re a Leader He’s the Lord” or “Someday You’ll Discover Who’s Really in Charge.”
Author: Mark A. Taylor
Mark A. Taylor, who served as Christian Standard editor from 2003 to 2017, retired in June 2017 after almost 41 years with Standard Publishing (Christian Standard Media).
