Examining Your Heart as a PastorSample

Are You Looking for Fulfillment in the Wrong Things?

Luke also records that greed is a motivation that can take over the heart of a pastoral leader (Luke 11:39, 42-43). Other passages of scripture point to the fact that things like food (Phil. 3:19), sex (Jude 4), money (1 Tim. 6:10), or comfort (Titus 1:12) can become the focus of personal gratification for pastors who have strayed from a walk with Christ, or who never had one to begin with but crept into church leadership under false pretenses.

Like all material things, these things are creations meant to bless us and be used to serve God, but when they become of greater worth to a person than the Creator Himself, idolatry is inevitable at that point. Pastors are not immune to letting created things usurp the Creator’s place in their hearts and must be ever vigilant to guard their hearts. On the contrary, a bad pastor will not set up safeguards against overindulging in these blessings. Gluttony, adultery, financial impropriety, and laziness will eventually materialize in a bad pastor’s life.

Application Questions

·Do you find yourself daydreaming about the things that you wished you had?

·Do you practice transparency in how you handle church finances and pastoral counseling cases with people of the opposite sex?

·Can you say that you look for opportunities to practice denying your selfish desires?

·Take a moment to read Jude 4, 11-13, 17-18, and confess to God any situations where you have used your ministry position for selfish personal gain.