Let Me Get This Right...

If you've listened to Dave Ramsey for any length of time, you've heard him give some very basic advice, particularly when it comes to investing. And it's great advice for a wide variety of other areas of life as well, but it's this...

Don't put your money in things you don't understand.

The investment can be dangerous. We've all heard the horror stories, or been the victim in the story. I trusted the guy who said he knew what he was doing... and yeah; I wish I hadn't.

I know... you've been reading for 30 seconds and you're wondering what this has to do with ministry and pastoral burnout. Well, Dave recently expounded on that concept and applied it on a grander, more impactful scale. His $200 million business which employs over 600 people. It's an incredible story.

But he shared on the air recently, that there's a lot that he doesn't understand. Like technology. But if he's sitting in a meeting where he's being asked to make an investment... it's his money. If somebody can't explain it with some degree of clarity and understanding so that Dave can see it's value and understand long-term what it will accomplish, then it's probably not happening.

While senior pastors are people of the Word and study the Word is their primary responsibility is to deliver the Word, I think there are many churches who have gotten into trouble over the years for the same reason that many businesses have gone under and many families have gotten into trouble.

Decisions have been made that cost us dearly. Emotionally. Mentally. With our time, resources and connections. And yes, with our wallets and checkbooks. All because someone pulled a fast one us that we didn't see coming. Because we were rushed into the decision making process; whether through fear or an "immovable deadline". Perhaps it was peer-pressure or group-think.

Somehow, some way; the ability to exercise discernment and restraint usually has a bigger payoff than the initial presentation of information leads us to believe actually exists. And when it is not exercised, it costs us... in our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Relational. Financial. Ministerial.

Get burned bad enough and you'll be burnt out for a while.

So... let's pray this #seniorPastorMonday for wisdom. And discernment. Pray for the situations and circumstances that call for their attention, demand their understanding and even more, require their decision. May God grant them the ability to understand that which doesn't come naturally. Pray God would help them to surround themselves with those who will give them wise counsel and direction, as well as guard them from attack and plunder. Pray they would not fear regret nor mistakes because they were rushed or convinced into a decision in which peace and understanding was absent from the process.

May the leadership be wise as serpents
And harmless as doves.
Faithful in ministry;
And protected from those who would desire to derail and destroy it.
For the advancement of the kingdom of Heaven.

- PNC