TIMELY INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY PASTOR
TIMELY INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY PASTOR
II Timothy 2:24-25
Paul gave these words of wisdom and inspiration to
the young pastor, Timothy, and to all pastors of future
generations. "The servant of the Lord must not strive."
He must not be a hot-tempered, contentious man,
striving over words in debate, or quarrelsome. The
preacher must earnestly and boldly content for the
faith. But he must not be mean-spirited and
contentious. "But be gentle to all men" - Gentleness is
a mark of genuine manliness. The pastor must be a man
with a backbone of steel. But he must be a man of
gentle behavior. Lambs respond to and follow a tender,
gentle, sympathetic shepherd. That shepherd who slays
the bear and the lion with fierce boldness, gently
caresses the wounded sheep. "Apt to teach" - Remember,
in the context Paul is talking about character here,
not gifts and ability. A man may be a precise
theologian and a mighty pulpiteer, but pastoring has to
do with caring for sheep. And we are not apt to teach
men and women, unless we gently lead them in the paths
of faith and obedience. "Patient" - Shepherds must be
the most patient men on earth! Sheep need constant
care. They are constantly prone to wonder, easily
wounded, and usually behave in a most unhealthy way.
That is the very reason why they need shepherds. If we
truly recognize and acknowledge our own shameful
unbelief, sin, faults, and shortcomings, we will be
patient with the lesser faults of our brethren,
especially our weaker brethren. It is secret pride that
makes us impatient with others. "In meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth." Really, the pastor has two
choices in dealing with men: (1). We can, by harassment
and intimidation, run them off, or whip them into line;
or (2). We can patiently preach Christ to them, in
gentleness, meekness and patience, with the hope that
God might graciously do for them what he has done for
us, grant them faith by the preaching of the gospel.
Don Fortner is pastor of
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, KY