The Pastor's Attitude Toward the Work of Ministry

Having pastored the same church for over 50 years I can look back at certain phases of ministry which most pastors will face. First, there is the “honeymoon phase,” filled with excitement, high expectations, a steep learning curve, and unforeseen events. The next phase is the adjustment phase where the pastor gets used to the people and they to him. Here the pastor discovers his ministry and preaching styles; he lays down the long-term plans and identifies his needs for the journey. Then he has what I call the “desert wanderings,” where he faces the ups and downs of ministry, the murmuring, the failing, the rebellion and even the apostasy of some. Here he sees what works and what doesn’t work.

Like Israel at Sinai, the journey is long, difficult, and seemingly endless. What carries us through these phases? The right attitudes toward ministry. Like Moses, we must possess the right perspective on ministry and allow the right attitudes to motivate us in each phase. The Apostle Peter was well aware of these phases, and here in 1 Peter 5:2-3 he encourages us to have the proper attitude toward ministry.

In Peter’s exhortation, a leader’s attitude towards the work of ministry is primary, with the command “Shepherd the flock of God” followed by three qualifying remarks. Together, they express the attitude we should have in laboring for God’s flock.

Serving God’s Flock with Desire

First, he says, “Not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God” (1 Peter 5:2). Ministry should be done “willingly,” with desire. In Spanish, we have a term for this: “con ganas.” It means “because you really want to do it.” The work of ministry should be done “con ganas,” out of obedience to God’s calling and “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 5:2). We should be in ministry because God called us and the church affirmed our qualifications and desire (1 Timothy 3:1-7). No one should be forced into eldership by coercion or guilt. Ministry should come from the heart.

Serving God’s Flock with Eagerness

The second qualifying statement for the work of ministry is “not for sordid gain, but with eagerness” (1 Peter 5:2). Ministry should not be motivated by financial remuneration. Ministry is not primarily a profession for pay, as some saw it even in the early church (1 Timothy 6:5-10). Nor is it done for the recognition or glory associated with the office (2 Corinthians 12:14-15; Philippians 2:17; 3 John 9). The primary motivator for ministry is not personal gain, whatever that may be.

The work of ministry should be motivated by a godly zeal and an eagerness to minister to the needs of the flock (1 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Philippians 2:19-22, 25-30). We have Paul’s example. We see his eagerness to fulfill his stewardship in 1 Corinthians 9:1-27. Notice his chief motivation for ministry—a desire to see souls saved and please the Lord who enlisted him. I used to tell my seminary students, “You should be so eager to minister that you would be willing to pay to preach if the church was unable or unwilling to pay you. Our motto should be ‘Have Bible. Will Travel.’”

Serving God’s Flock with Humility

The spirit of Diotrephes is not uncommon in our churches (3 John 9-10). It was a struggle even among the twelve disciples (Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 22:24-30; John 13:1-17). Christian ministry attracts glory hogs. The power of the pulpit over the pew draws those who would lord it over the flock of God, abusing them financially, emotionally, physically, and even sexually. This isn’t acceptable. Self-glory is never an appropriate attitude in ministry.

The pastor should lead by example (1 Peter 5:3; Hebrews 13:7), in love and kindness, (Hebrews 13:17) serving the flock (Philippians 2:1-8). May we not look for what the flock can do for us, but what we can do for the flock. Our attitude in ministry should always be one of service—for the good of God’s flock and the glory of God. Our model for ministry is Jesus, who reminded us that “even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Let’s learn to do the work of ministry with the humility modeled by Christ.

Moses’ Example

Moses, the great liberator of God’s people, possessed these same attitudes toward the ministry God had given him. Moses’ desire to serve God’s people is expressed not only by his willingness to accept God’s call but also by his diligence in caring for the needs of the congregation (Exodus 18:13-16). His selfless earnestness for the people of God is seen in his intercession for the abominations committed by them and his willingness to die with them if necessary (Exodus 32:30-32).

Throughout the 40 years of wandering, Moses displayed an attitude of servant leadership, choosing to lead by love and life. God even said this of His choice servant: “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). No matter what phase of ministry we are in at this moment, we must maintain the proper attitudes toward ministry. We must not become slack, apathetic, discouraged or rudderless in our journey. Instead, we must minister with desire, earnestness, and humility so that we may end the race by saying what our beloved Paul said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).