Pastor, there is a cost to serving Jesus in ministry. You know that, but it is good to be reminded from time to time.
Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Following Jesus means we regularly choose to die to ourselves, and for the pastor, this is not optional. It is the essence of our calling in service to the Lord. We have made a commitment to serve, love, and help others, not to be served (Mark 10:45). This calling will inevitably involve sacrifices.
Let’s be clear, though. God does not call you to harm yourself or sacrifice your family on the altar of ministry. It’s not God’s heart for you at all.
However, the ministry will indeed cost you. It requires the surrender of your rights and privileges to Jesus, choosing to die to yourself daily. You are in ministry to give, not to get. You are there to serve people, not to expect them to serve you. Be careful about dwelling on what you think you deserve. God has given us grace, not what we deserve. We are eternally grateful for that!
Paul wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). Serving Jesus well means making yourself available. It begins with being available to Jesus, then to your family, then to your church family, and then to the people God has placed around you. You cannot serve well if you are not present physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Ministry often requires you to put the needs of others before your own desires. Often. There will be times when you are away, whether on vacation, at lunch, or on a ministry trip, and someone else will need to step in to carry the load. When those times come, plan carefully. Ministry does not stop while you are away. Be mindful of those who serve alongside you and make sure they are supported. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Serving Jesus means living with a mindset of sacrifice and readiness to serve, even when it is uncomfortable.
The Bible calls us to walk in love, “as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). As a pastor, you are called to model this sacrificial love. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. As you continue to serve, do so with a willing heart, staying close to Jesus, and remembering that your life of sacrifice brings glory to Him and strengthens His people.
Stay steady. Stay faithful. Stay available.
Jesus will use your life to bless others as you walk in personal sacrifice, relying on His strength every step of the way.
Adapted from the book, Sure and Steady by Pastor Ed Taylor. CH 7
