The Pastor

 

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

For though you have countless guides (ten thousand instructors- NKJV) in Christ, you do not have many fathers. 1Corinthians 4:14-15 (ESV)

A father, like a shepherd, never relinquishes responsibility for the flock; 

A guide can preach a sermon or teach a session and then go home and attend to his own affairs; but a father can never cease to be a father, just as someone with a pastor’s heart, never loses sight or burden for his sheep. 

A guide can travel the world, teaching, speaking, exhorting hundreds…thousands…and not remembering one;

A father…a pastor…a shepherd…knows each one of his sheep by name, and cares for each one. See John Ch.10; Ch.21:15-17 and 1Samuel 17:28, 34-37

A guide is likely to be known and heralded by many; 

A pastor…a father…only by his own.

A guide may have many followers;

A pastor? Just a few sheep (1Samuel 17:28)

A guide has often already received his/her reward in this life; 

A father…a pastor…looks for his reward in the next. 

Let each one of us judge for ourselves: Who is doing the greater work in the eyes of the Lord? Only the Lord knows a person’s heart - But know this: He does not measure greatness as we do. Whether our churches are big or small, under Christ, we must bestow our first honor - not on motivational speakers, or itinerant preachers or prophets  - but  on our pastors.