NO KNAPSACK BUT NO LACK

 

I’ve heard it said, “Where the finger of God points, the hand of God provides.”  If you want to make a fortune on earth, I would not recommend ministry as a vocation. But, if God calls you to serve Him, and He sends you into the field of Gospel work, then you can be confident of enough here and eternal reward hereafter!

I type this as I sit in a modest house. I drive a car that is about ten years old with around 200,000 miles on it. My wardrobe is not extravagant and my lifestyle not one of the rich and famous. So what?  It does not matter to me.  If I can meet my obligations—it is enough. 

The disciples testified to this reality. Jesus had sent them out without what one would consider even basic supplies. There was an urgency about the mission which did not allow a lot of preparation. They would learn to walk by faith and not by sight. It is how God wants us all to live. It is a counter-cultural approach that summons us to reject man’s natural inclination and live with supernatural direction.

My Father has never failed me. Day by day, He has cared for me. The One who feeds the fowls and robes the flowers, has kept me nourished and clothed. Sometimes what was going out demanded more than what was coming in. It is good to have a budget, but when you crunch the numbers, they may crash us to our knees.  But, that is a good place to be, and I will tell you that “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬‬). He has not promised to provide for greed, but to meet need. 

I was basically bi-vocational in my first pastorate—a small country church in the mountains. The membership was mainly senior saints on fixed incomes. A typical offering was $300, of which they paid me about a third of it. We went there with my wife expecting our first child. We had no insurance.  They did provide us a place to stay, but we had to pay for the utilities. The old two story, rock farmhouse had windows that were not tight and when the winds of winter blew hard, the curtains moved!  In a hard rain, water would pour in through the worn shingles and we placed jars and cans to catch the water that dripped through. 

I remember coming home with our little family one night and the furnace was off because the fuel had run out. There was nothing to do but call one of our young deacons who let us spend the night. The next day, they put some oil in. Then the church purchased a wood furnace, and they would let me cut wood off some of their land, sometimes even helping me work it up—and we made it through the winter. When it seemed the food would run out, somebody would bring us some beef for the freezer and some beans they had canned.

There are many other stories of this nature I might tell. Nearly half a century has passed and always God has provided.  Trust Him today. Serve Him always. If you have no knapsack, the Lord promises there will still be no lack. 

My old professor, the late William Willingham, sometimes would sing this song to us in chapel:

1. Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!
 
CHORUS:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.
 
2. At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.
 
3. Life’s day will soon be o’re,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.

NEVER ALONE

 

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5)

Ministry can be lonely business.  Faithful friendships are hard to find.  There is such a spirit of competitiveness and jealousy among many pastors that discovering a peer with whom you can share your heart is rare.  Sometimes we may find friendship in our congregation, but do we feel the need to be guarded to some degree?  There are things that others have told us in confidence where counsel might be helpful, but would seem a violation of trust to discuss.  We will face criticism and attacks at times that are burdens hard to bear alone, but we may not want to share with even our spouse, lest we sour their attitude about others.  Yet, we need somebody.  Where can we turn? 

Jesus had promised to be with us—and He is enough!  His unerring wisdom will be our counsel.  His unfailing power will be our strength.  His unwavering love will be our comfort.  His unending presence will be our joy.  There is no mountain too steep, and no valley too low; there is no river too wide, and no darkness too deep—but our Savior walks with us.  We are never alone!

So today, if you are carrying a heavy load—and as a pastor that is a high probability—cast your care on the One that is an ever-present help in time of trouble.  The old hymn underscores this:

I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll.
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul.
I’ve heard the voice of Jesus, telling me still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

Paul knew this reality.  Mediate on his testimony:

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!  (2 Timothy 4:16-18)

THE PROMISES ARE FOR PASTORS TOO!

The works of His hands are verity and justice;

All His precepts are sure. 

They stand fast forever and ever,

And are done in truth and uprightness. 

He has sent redemption to His people;

He has commanded His covenant forever:

Holy and awesome is His name.  (Psalm 111:7-9)

How often pastors have sought to lift the downcast with the assurances of God’s promises and reminders of the faithfulness of His love.  We open our Bibles and read to the suffering and sorrowing those eternal truths, to give them an anchor of hope in their present storm.  It would be well if we preached the same sermon to ourselves!  When the difficult seasons of plowing hard ground have come, as weeds seem to grow, but believers do not, and when the sun turns the soil to dust and tender ones wither, let us remain steadfast in our confidence.  God has promised to bless His Word.  He commands, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  (Gal.6:9)  The promises are for pastors, too! 

There were times that people forgot all that Moses had done for them, rebelled against him—even wanted to kill him.  David’s own wife ridiculed his exuberance in worship.  Elijah had to be reminded that conditions were not as dire as he thought; there were more following the Lord than he supposed.  Jeremiah saw little positive response to his preaching, but much hostility, yet, he was God’s man for the hour.  Ezekiel had a congregation of skeletons in a graveyard, but God worked through his sermon to raise the dead.  John the Baptist saw diminishing crowds, and in the end lost his head over his sermon, but Jesus commended him for his greatness.  People will be fickle; God will be faithful.

I am preaching to myself when I say, “Pastor, trust the promises of God.  His character is immutable when our popularity with people may change with the weather.  Look to His Word, and do not be a hypocrite in offering its counsel to others, but disdaining it yourself.  Trust Him and do not let discouragement diminish your service.”

Can I get an amen?