PERILS FOR THE PREACHER

In Matthew 6, we have the heart of the Sermon on the Mount and it deals with the matter of the heart. We can group these warnings of Christ around three dangers for any believer: pride, prayerlessness, and possessions. Yet, these are especially perils for the preacher.

There is A WARNING ABOUT PRIDE. Jesus warns in several places about “hypocrites,” who in their giving (v.1-3), praying (v.4-15), and fasting (v.16-18), do so with great public fanfare. Their intention is to have the applause of men. A pastor may do the right thing, yet for the wrong reason, and it then be wrong. Such may have the appreciation of humans, but not the approval of heaven!  It is not that a preacher can or even should always keep his service secret, but if motivated by self-promotion, we try to steal that which only God merits—His glory!  How many will find their lifetime “achievements,” go up in smoke at the Judgment Seat as hay, wood, and straw?

There is A WARNING ABOUT PRAYERLESSNESS (v.4-15). There is extensive teaching concerning prayer. We already have addressed the motive for prayer, but Jesus goes on to speak to the manner of prayer and  furnishing a model for prayer. Jesus assumes we will pray. He says, “when you pray,” not “if you pray.”  Now, the preacher will pray publicly, yet he is not to simply be the professional pray-er. There is the danger that in volume of sound and verbosity of speech, he thinks he is reaching heaven, while his words rise no higher than the ceiling. There will be no power, nor fruitful ministry, if it is not rooted in a private prayer life that connects us to God. Impotent preaching is often due to inadequate praying!

There is A WARNING ABOUT POSSESSIONS (v.16-34). Many a minister has been shipwrecked on the shoals of materialism. Obsessions for possessions have ruined many a preacher. A man who serves the church for money is a hireling, rather than a shepherd. It is not that a vow of poverty is required. If we do not provide for our family, we are worse than an infidel (1 Tim.5:8). To have possessions is one thing, but they must never possess us. It is not just a matter of what is in the bank, but what is in our heart. We may not have wealth, yet covet it. We may have little financially and correspondingly little faith—worrying about tomorrow rather than trusting God today.

Satan has these three traps set for you preacher! Watch where you step lest you be ensnared!

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #28

Years ago I heard this—and I do not recall the source—don’t seek to live above your congregation or beneath your members, but live among them. Money is always a temptation for the pastor—to be covetous to have more of it.  We can be covetous and seek to have a standard of living that exceeds that of the common people who give sacrificially so we can be on mission for God.  You don’t have to have a big house and fine car and live in luxury. That is damaging to your witness. But you can also be covetous when you have a meager amount of money for it is more about what is in your heart than your bank account. But, we do need enough, for God says that if we do not provide for our household then we are worse than an infidel!  That can harm the testimony of the church, as well.  Someone may look at the smoking rust bucket we drive down the road and conclude that God’s people are not putting their money where their mouth is!   I can truthfully say that God has always allowed us to live modestly as we raised five children. No one would look at the houses we lived in or the cars we rode in or the clothes we dressed in and say, “Those folks make too much money” or “those folks are poor.”  They wouldn’t think much about it either way—and we have tried to view finances that way.