BURNOUT AND STRESS IN THE PASTORSHIP

II Corinthians 7:5-7; Psalm 9:9-10, 18:1-2

Burnout is emotional exhaustion. Burnout can cause you to give up on something to which you have been passionately committed.

Burnout is not usually found in lazy people. Pastors who suffer burnout are usually purposeful, committed, unselfish, and somewhat idealistic servants of God. Burnout often hits ministers who believe, commit and serve with all their heart, in the area toward which they believe God has directed their commitment and involvement.

Burnout can lead to depression, discouragement, isolation, chronic fatigue, paranoia, becoming critical and judgmental of others, martyr complex, rejection, messiah complex, and a lack of inspiration in teaching or preaching. They haven’t stopped functioning altogether yet, but pastors who are burned out have lost the zest for ministry; they “go through the motions” day after day, but with little joy, and with greatly reduced capability for effective service. You cannot escape crises in the pastorship. But you do not have to be a victim.

Much of the problem stems from the fact that most pastors are, by nature, idealists. You expect far too much of yourself, and of your congregation. Your congregation, in turn, makes very unrealistic demands on you.  Consequently, the pastorship at times can be torturous.

The congregation is the pastor’s toughest critics. The members look to their pastor as some kind of ideal parent, all-wise, all-knowing, a leader, problem-solver, tireless worker, and a perfect example. No one can measure up to such standards. The problem with many pastors is that they try to be all that the congregation expects. And the crazy part is it would be so much simpler and more effective to help your congregation see you as a human being. Many pastors let themselves fall into a vicious cycle. They try to be perfect. Eventually, they feel themselves slipping and become afraid. The congregation senses this fear.

It is a proven fact that fear feeds stress. We expend tremendous energy repressing our fear, shielding ourselves. What do you fear, rejection, disappointing people, being vulnerable, powerlessness? We fear confrontation, failure, being hurt, etc. It’s natural to worry about these things. But when we let them take over, this brings on stress. For a pastor, this stress can make it extremely difficult to deal effectively with any crisis, at home or with the church.

There are pastors so afraid of criticism, there are so afraid of not being needed, that they overwork themselves to keep busy. They’re even afraid to delegate any responsibility. They think they’ll lose their authority. They might even refuse vacation time because the church could discover it can get along without them.

Burnout is the “disease of the over-committed,” which comes as the result of chronic stress. Every Pastor has a different stress level; that is a point where stress becomes harmful. The secret is to recognize the signs of stress. Every pastor should find his stress level, and when you sense that you are close to it, back off and change pace. How can you tell when you’ve gotten “in over your level”? Here are some common signs:

1. Your body begins to reject new information. You don’t even hear a lot of what is said to you and don’t remember much of what you hear. You’re overloaded.

 

2. Loss of options. Your mental horizon closes in; you have trouble seeing alternative courses of action.

 

3. Insomnia. The chronic inability to sleep.

 

4. Inability to change harmful patterns. When you’re under stress from too many changes, it can seem too complicated to say “no” to additional demands. You find it easier to just heap on more commitments.

 

5. Fatigue. When you’re under excessive stress, your body craves more rest and sleep than usual. Give in and rest!

 

6. Depression. This is usually related to change, or the loss of someone or something close without taking time to grieve over your loss. Stress can precipitate depression.

 

7. Physical illness. Stress upsets your whole glandular system, raises blood pressure, and keeps body systems in a fight/flight state of tension. This constant state of turmoil makes you vulnerable to everything from colds and muscular aches to ulcers, heart disease, and strokes.

What is burnout? Burnout (stress) is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion marked by physical depletion and chronic fatigue, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, and by the development of a negative self-concept and negative attitudes towards work, life, and other people. Some signs of Burnout are:

1. Decreased energy. “Keeping up to speed” becomes increasingly difficult.

 

2. Feelings of failure in your calling as a pastor.

 

3. Insomnia. The chronic inability to sleep.

 

4. Reduced sense of reward in return for pouring so much of yourself into the job or project.

 

5. Sense of helplessness and the inability to see a way out of problems.

 

6. Cynicism and negativism about yourself, others, work, and the world in general.

THE FOUR STAGES THAT LEADS TO BURNOUT:

1. Enthusiasm

 

2. Stagnation

 

3. Frustration

 

    A sense of being inadequate to accomplish what needs to be done, and doubts about whether or not it’s all worth the effort. This stage can be a turning point. It can either take you upward again to enthusiasm and new effectiveness or down into the fourth stage.

 

4. Apathy and chronic indifference that marks complete burnout.

COPING WITH STRESS

1. Learn To Plan

 

    Too many projects going on simultaneously lead to confusion, forgetfulness, and the nagging feeling of uncompleted tasks. Put your duties in priority order. Then take on just one or two projects at a time and work on them until completed.

 

2. Accept Your Limits

 

    Pastor’s can never be perfect, understand this and accept it. Otherwise, you will wind up feeling inadequate, no matter how well you perform. Set only achievable goals for yourself.

 

3. Facing Fears

 

    Fears don’t go away; they simply weigh on us. When you confront your fears, you’re on the way to casting off the burden. But admitting fear is hard for some pastors, simply because pastors are somehow supposed to be “above all that.”

 

4. Have Fun

 

    It’s not a sin for you to have fun, everyone, including pastor’s need to escape job pressures and just relax and enjoy themselves. Laughter has tremendous healing power. Take time out for laughter!

 

5. Be Positive About People and Life

 

    Try to avoid criticizing others. Praise them instead. Focus on their good traits. They’ll return the favor.

 

6. Practice Tolerance and Forgiveness

 

    When we try to really understand the way someone else feels we can be more accepting of them. When we’re intolerant, we only feed our own frustration and anger.

 

7. Don’t Compete When You Don’t Have To

 

    Life is full of unavoidable competitive situations. Don’t add to them.

 

8. Exercise

 

    Even a daily walk is a big help.

 

9. Take Time for Yourself

 

Listen to music or take a nap. Go outside and look at nature.

 

10. Find a Person That You Can Open Up To

 

    Expressing all those bottled-up tensions can be incredibly helpful.  The family is our primary support system. Talk to your wife, talk to a fellow minister that you have confidence in. A pastor needs a pastor, too, to provide strength and nurturing.

 

11. Find New Spiritual Disciplines:

 

    Find a new way of praying, a new approach to scripture reading, daily meditation; personal retreats, and days of silent contemplation.

You can rise from the ashes of stress, but, it takes time. First of all, you need to rest and relax. Don't take your work home with you. If you are like the majority of the pastors, the work is never finished and later you will feel guilty for being lazy.

On having conquered your burnout (stress), be realistic in your aspirations and goals. Whoever the person might be that you are speaking to about your feelings can help you, but be careful. Your aspirations and goals of readjustment must be yours and not that person's. Trying to be and to do what someone else wants you to be is a sure formula for frustration and continual burnout.

One last word of advice, make a balance in your life. Invest more of your life with your family and other personal bonds, social activities, and hobbies. Distribute your time and yourself so that your work does not have a strong influence on your self-esteem and self-confidence.

STRESS & BURNOUT DIFFERENCES:

1. Burnout is a defense characterized by discouragement. Stress is characterized by over engagement.

2. In Burnout, the emotions become overactive. In stress, the physical damage is primary.

3. The exhaustion of burnout affects motivation and drive. The exhaustion of stress affects physical energy.

4. Burnout is demoralization.  Stress can best be understood as a loss of fuel and energy.

5. The depression of burnout is caused by grief engendered by the loss of ideals and hope. The depression of stress is produced by the body's need to protect itself and conserve energy.

6. Burnout produces a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. Stress produces paranoia, depersonalization, detachment, panic, phobias, and anxiety type disorders.

7. Burnout may never kill you but your life may not seem worth living, but stress can kill you prematurely and you won't have enough time to finish what you have started.

 

 

 

EL DENUEDO DE UN PASTOR

“Mira que te mando que te esfuerces y seas valiente; no temas ni desmayes, porque Jehová tu Dios estará contigo en dondequiera que vayas.” Josué 1:9

“Ruego a los ancianos que están entre vosotros, yo anciano también con ellos, y testigo de los padecimientos de Cristo, que soy también participante de la gloria que será revelada: Apacentad la grey de Dios que está entre vosotros, cuidando de ella, no por fuerza, sino voluntariamente.” I Pedro 5:1-4

El miedo puede, e impedi a muchos líderes buenos de convertirse en grandes líderes. Muchos escaladores de montaña han permanecido en el campamento base del Monte Everest, sin embargo, sólo un pequeño porcentaje de ellos han tenido el valor que se necesita para realmente  subir a la cima de esa montaña. El miedo a lo desconocido. El miedo de lo que la gente dirá si fracasamos. El miedo de la crítica a lo largo del camino. El miedo de ser el único que dice “si se puede hacer.” Miedo de nuestra visión rechazada por otros. El miedo puede matar a nuestra directiva dada por Dios. Esto puede asfixiar nuestro sueño.

Una posición o un título no hacen a una persona un líder un día para otro. Aunque una persona sea elegida para pastorear una iglesia, ellos no son realmente un líder hasta que ellos enfrentan sus temores y realmente conduzcan a la congregación que Dios ha puesto en sus manos a donde El quiere que vaya. Ser elegido para dirigir es fácil. En realidad dirigir es difícil.

¿Qué define a un visionario verdadero? ¿Es alguien que tiene muchas grandes ideas? ¿Alguien que ve la necesidad del cambio, pero nunca hace que aquel cambio ocurra? Si usted está incapaz o no quiere causar el cambio, no diga nada. Aunque usted pueda ver la necesidad de cambio, no diga nada, a menos que sea para provocar una visión en otra persona que es capaz de crear el cambio necesario.

Cuando usted vea a otro ministro o ministerio que es exitoso, ir con ellos y averigüe cómo y por qué están teniendo éxito. Esfuércese por aprender de ellos. Usted encontrará por lo general que la razón porque ellos están teniendo el éxito es debida a algo que usted sintió que el Espíritu Santo le había hablado de ello en el pasado. Usted podría realizar que Dios le había dicho que hiciera esta misma cosa en el pasado, sólo que usted careció del valor para lanzarse a ello. Hay que admitir que algunas de las más exitosas personas alrededor de usted están haciendo cosas que usted mismo ha considerado, sólo ellos lo hicieron y usted no lo hizo.

Nuestra tentación es demasiado a menudo aceptar el status quo. Nos medimos por nosotros mismos. Determinamos que, puesto que hemos aumentado en algunos puntos porcentuales, estamos teniendo éxito. Sin embargo realmente necesitamos que comenzar a medirnos en los estándares de Dios. ¿Ve él una iglesia de 75 como un éxito cuando se encuentra en medio de una población de 10,000 almas? Ahora si aquella iglesia tiene menos de 3 años, esto es realmente un éxito, pero, si aquella iglesia tiene 20 años o más, esto es otro cuento.

El status quo es seguro. Es cómodo. La aceptación del status quo sin embargo matará una iglesia. Ah, todavía estará allí, pero la visión y el empuje que se necesita para ganar una comunidad, serán para siempre perdidos a menos que usted decida enfrentar a los enemigos del cambio e incluso sus propios temores.     

Mira y estudie las iglesias alrededor de usted que están teniendo éxito. Siga los pasos que ellos toman para crear y mantener el éxito que ellos tienen en su ciudad. Una cosa que usted descubrirá consiste en que ningunos dos de ellos están haciendo la misma cosa. Lo que está causando su éxito es que ellos están haciendo cosas que aparecen radicales a aquellos que  cuestionan sus motivos, intenciones, y directivas. Ante la gran crítica desde dentro y desde fuera, cada una de estas iglesias y su Pastor ha decidido que es mejor luchar y perder que sentarse al margen y no hacer nada.

Para un pastor a aceptar la mediocridad o el status quo es morir. Usted puede estar viviendo en el exterior, pero por dentro estás muerto. Sus días de tener visiones se han terminado. Su capacidad de andar en la oscuridad y saber que la gente está dispuesta a seguirle se ha ido. Usted ya no es un líder. Usted puede tener una posición. Puede ser el jefe, pero usted ya no es un líder de gente. Cuando un pastor encuentra que su capacidad de dirigir ha terminado, es el momento para él pedirle en oración a Dios el valor para enfrentar sus temores.

Moisés, hay un Mar Rojo que le espera a dividirse. Elías, hay un Río Jordán delante de usted. Pedro, siga adelante y sal del barco. David recoge tus piedras, su gigante va a caer. Juan, aunque ellos le hayan hervido en aceite y le hayan enviado para morir en Patmos, Dios ahora tiene un libro que Él quiere que usted escriba.

Pastor, su congregación le seguirá si sale audazmente en la fe y hace todo lo que Dios le dice que haga. Interiormente están esperando que los dirijas. ¡Aquel matón de la iglesia realmente le está diciendo, “Pastor, dirígeme!      

 

        

 

 

 

THE BOLDNESS OF A PASTOR

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.” I Peter 5:1-4 

Cross references:

A.Joshua 1:9 : S Dt 31:6; Jos 10:8; 2Ki 19:6; Isa 35:4; 37:6

B.Joshua 1:9 : S Dt 1:21; Job 4:5

C.Joshua 1:9 : S ver 7; Dt 31:7-8; Jer 1:8

Fear can and will keep many good leaders from becoming great leaders. Many mountain climbers have stood at the base camp of Mt. Everest, yet only a small percentage of them have had the courage it takes to actually climb to the top of that mountain. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what people will say if we fail. Fear of criticism along the way. Fear of being the only one saying “It can be done.” Fear of our vision being rejected by others. Fear can kill our God-given directive. It can suffocate our dream.

A position or a title does not make a person a leader overnight. Though a person is chosen to Pastor a church, they are not truly a leader until they face their fears and actually lead the congregation that God has placed in his hands to where God wants it to go. Being chosen to lead is easy. Actually leading is hard.

What defines a true visionary? Is it someone who has a lot of great ideas? Someone who sees the need for change, but never causes that change to take place? If you are unable or unwilling to cause change, don’t say anything. Although you may see a need for change, don’t say anything, unless it is to spark a vision in another person who is capable of creating the needed change.

When you see another minister or ministry that is successful, go to them and find out how and why they are having success. Strive to learn from them. You will usually find that the reason they are having success is due to something you felt the Holy Spirit speaking to you about in the past. You might realize that God told you to do this same thing in the past, only you lacked the courage to launch into it. You must admit that some of the more successful people around you are doing things that you yourself have considered, only they did it and you didn’t.

Our temptation is all too often to accept the status quo. We measure ourselves by ourselves. We determine that since we have increased by some percentage point, we are being successful. However, we really need to begin measuring ourselves by God’s standards. Does He view a church of 75 as a success when it sits in the middle of a 10,000 soul populace? Now if that church is less than 3 years old, it is truly a success but, if that church is 20 years or older, that’s another story.

The status quo is safe. It’s comfortable. Accepting the status quo however, will kill a church. Oh, it will still be there, but the vision and drive that it takes to win a community will be forever lost unless you decide to face the enemies of change and even your own fears.

Watch and study churches around you that are having success. Follow the steps they are taking to create and maintain the success they are having in their city. One thing you will discover is that no two of them are doing the same thing. What’s causing their success is that they are doing things that appear radical to those who question their motives, intents, and directives. In the face of great criticism from within and without, every one of these churches and their Pastor have decided it is better to fight and lose than sit on the sidelines and do nothing.

For a pastor to accept mediocrity or the status quo is to die. You may be living on the outside, but on the inside you are dead. You vision casting days are over. Your ability to walk into the darkness and know that people are willing to follow you is gone. You are no longer a leader. You may have a position. You may be the boss, but you are no longer a leader of people. When a pastor finds that his ability to lead is over, it is time for him to prayerfully ask God for the courage to face his fears.

Moses, there is a Red sea waiting for you to split. Elijah, there is a Jordan River in front of you. Peter, go ahead and step out of the boat. David gather up your stones, your giant is going to fall. John, though they’ve boiled you in oil and sent you to die on Patmos, God now has a book he wants you to write.

Pastor, your congregation will follow you if you boldly step out in faith and do all that God is telling you to do. They are inwardly waiting for you to lead them. That church bully is really saying to you, “Pastor lead me!

 

 

OBSCURO PERO SIGNIFICANTE

 

 "El siguiente día otra vez estaba Juan, y dos de sus discípulos. Y mirando a Jesús que andaba por allí, dijo: He aquí el Cordero de Dios. Le oyeron hablar los dos discípulos, y siguieron a Jesús.  Y volviéndose Jesús, y viendo que le seguían, les dijo: ¿Qué buscáis? Ellos le dijeron: Rabí (que traducido es, Maestro), ¿dónde moras? Les dijo: Venid y ved. Fueron, y vieron donde moraba, y se quedaron con él aquel día; porque era como la hora décima. Andrés, hermano de Simón Pedro, era uno de los dos que habían oído a Juan, y habían seguido a Jesús. Este halló primero a su hermano Simón, y le dijo: Hemos hallado al Mesías (que traducido es, el Cristo). Y le trajo a Jesús. Y mirándole Jesús, dijo: Tú eres Simón, hijo de Jonás; tú serás llamado Cefas (que quiere decir, Pedr)." Juan 1:35-42 

A menudo tenemos la idea equivocada que sólo los trabajadores visibles en el obra del Señor son dignos de consideración. No debemos pasar por alto la contribución de los partidarios firmes que trabajan por el señor en obscuro y áreas menos visibles del reino de Dios. Algunos de los más grandes obreros en el reino son case siempre poco conocidos y pasan desapercibido. Aún el trabajo que ellos desempeñan es mucho como el condimento en una comida buena. Andrés, un discípulo de Jesús, era tal persona.

El día después que Juan el Bautista hizo su primer anuncio público de Jesús, sus discípulos empezaron a buscar a Jesús. Los primeros dos discípulos para seguir a Jesús fueron Andrés y su amigo Juan, el hermano de Jacobo. Cuándo ellos encontraron a Jesús, le preguntaron, “¿Dónde moras? Ellos probablemente pensaron que sería bueno conocer más acerca de Él.

Jesús invitó a estos dos discípulos de Juan que pasaran la tarde con Él, superando sus expectativas. Ellos se convencieron que el anuncio de Juan de Jesús que era el Cristo era cierto. Se sintieron obligados decirles a sus hermanos acerca de su descubrimiento del Cristo y llevarlos a Él.

Andrés apenas es notado por los historiadores cristianos y solo se menciona seis veces por nombre en el Nuevo Testamento. Sin embargo, estamos endeudados a este poco conocido discípulo por traer a Jesús a su posterior bien conocido hermano, Pedro. ¡Qué grande campo misionero proveen nuestras familias! Andrés no se apresuró a ir a otro campo de labor. Su primer testimonio se dio a esos de su casa.

En una ocasión cuando una multitud le había seguido, Jesús probó la fe de Felipe cuando le preguntó, “¿De dónde compraremos pan para que coman éstos? (Jn. 6:5). Felipe, la persona práctica que él era, considero la situación y sin fe para una solución contestó, “Doscientos denarios de pan no bastarían para que cada uno de ellos tomase un poco.” Los discípulos le sugirieron a Jesús despídelos porque era ya tarde. Jesús dijo: “Dadles vosotros de comer.”(Mar. 6:37). Los discípulos fallaron la misma prueba de fe que Felipe había fallado. Ellos preguntaron, “¿Que vayamos y compremos...y les demos de comer?”

Andrés trajo a un joven y su almuerzo de cinco panes de cebada y dos pececillos a Jesús. El dijo, “¿qué es esto para tantos? (Jn. 6:9). La pregunta escéptica de Andrés fue tocada con una pizca de fe. ¿Para qué tomar la molestia de llevar el pequeño almuerzo a Jesús si él no creía que Jesús iba a hacer algo con él? Jesús actúa sobre la sugerencia de Andrew a la vez.

Es increíble ver lo que Jesús puede hacer con nuestros recursos limitados y poca fe. Comienza con lo que tenemos y lo bendice para que se convierta suficiente para lo que necesitamos. Debemos seguir el ejemplo de Andrés y traer a Jesús lo poco que tenemos con el fin de que Él lo multiplique.

Un día un grupo de Griegos vinieron con Felipe y le pidieron que arreglar para que puedan reunirse con Jesús. Felipe consultó con Andrés y ambos le trajeron el mensaje a Jesús. Cuando Andrés y Felipe trajeron la petición a Jesús con los Griegos, abrieron la puerta para que Él enseñara sobre el verdadero propósito de Su muerte (Juan. 12:23-36).

Cualquier persona que es obscuro puede definirse como poco conocido o no famoso. Andrés, a comparación con su hermano, Pedro, no era muy bien conocido o famoso. Sin embargo, su vida fue significante y lleno de propósito y importancia. Jesús tenía un círculo interno dentro de Su grupo de apóstoles. Pedro, Santiago y Juan estaban con Él cuando levantó la hija de Jairo, en la transfiguración y durante la oración angustiosa de Jesús en el Getsemaní. Estos tres hombres compartieron un lugar especial de cercanía con Jesús durante varios eventos clave, mientras que Andrés y los demás estaban fuera del círculo interior.

El hermano mayor de Andrés, Pedro, a quien había traído a Cristo llego a ser bien conocido en la iglesia. Su experiencia fue similar a la de un profesor cuyo estudiante se eleva a un mayor reconocimiento que el qué lo enseñó.  O, como un hermano menor, cuyo única identidad pública es su relación con un hermano mayor. Andrés esta sosegadamente inadvertido mientras Pedro audazmente construyó una reputación de grandes reconocimientos de fe.

Andrés no recibió la aclamación. No hay ningún registro bíblico de un sermón que él predicó o escritura sagrada escrita por él. Jesús no lo reconoció por servicio meritorio o le felicito por un gran carácter. Pero esto no quiere decir que carecía de grandeza o no era digno de tal elogio. Más bien, él pareció ser grande en una forma modesta tranquila. En efecto, ¡la ausencia de un clamor por la atención o crédito personal son marcas de su grandeza y todavía son rasgos mucho que desear!

Andrés ejemplificó el concepto que Jesús enseño que, “los primeros serán postreros.” Aunque Andrés fue el primer discípulo él no estaba en el primer plano de liderazgo. Andrés se limito a permanecer oscuro. Él no hizo ningún esfuerzo para empujar por delante de los otros apóstoles para la atención. Santiago y Juan presionaron a Jesús por posiciones de prominencia en el reino venidero, pero esto no fue así con Andrés.

Aparentemente, no había envidia en el corazón de Andrés hacia el portavoz popular apostólico y líder, su hermano. Él mostró la esencia pura de amor verdadero que, “no tiene envidia”. Ningún celo perverso corrompió el corazón de Andrés.

Personas pequeñas deja caer nombres y tijeretean a los talones de los que están subiendo más allá  que ellos. Pocos de hecho son las personas que son capaces de amar, guiar y luego quedarse al margen para animar mientras que otros parecen pasarlos.

HAY  UNA  GRAN NECESIDAD  DE  PERSONAS  DE  APOYO  EN  EL OBRA DE  DIOS

“Además, el cuerpo (la iglesia) no es un solo miembro, sino muchos” (I Cor.12:14). Cuando pensamos en la comparación del apóstol Pablo del cuerpo humano y el cuerpo de Cristo, la iglesia, se no recuerda de cuan importantes son las cosas pequeñas. Hay una necesidad por más que sólo el prominente. Pablo hizo la pregunta: “si todo el cuerpo fuese ojo, ¿dónde estaría el oído?” El cuerpo estaría fuera de equilibrio si la cabeza fuera sólo un ojo grande, o orejas, o nariz."

Cada uno de nosotros provee para la iglesia una función necesitada que hemos sido llamados hacer. Alguien tiene que proveer el apoyo detrás las escenas para hacer posible cada actividad en la iglesia. Debemos estar satisfechos hacer nuestra parte en el apoyo de todos quien están dependiendo en nosotros. Finalmente, Cristo esta confiando en nosotros que hagamos todo lo que Él nos ha llamado y ordenó para hacer.

El valor de las cosas pequeñas en la vida nunca se puede subestimar. Hay muchas cosas pequeñas y aparentemente insignificantes en la vida de los que dependemos totalmente. Sabemos que podemos contar con Jesús que siempre es el mismo, pero ¿puede Él depender de nosotros? ¿Vamos a estar en el lugar donde Él nos ha plantado? Cada líder debe tener un personal dedicado de personas a quienes se puede confiar. Se ha dicho que la mayor capacidad en la vida es la disponibilidad.

Mucho daño puede venir de personas que, después de haber cumplido con éxito en una capacidad secundaria, crecen inquieto y deciden ir a otro lugar donde ellos pueden ser un líder prominente. Tal movimiento impulsivo puede causar confusión y desastre si la persona no ha sido llamado a ese lugar de liderazgo. Es mucho mejor que una persona esté contento para laborar fielmente en cualquier capacidad que Dios le ha puesto hasta el momento en que Dios escogería para moverlo a otra área de servicio.

Siguiendo los pasos de Andrés es un reto. El carácter modesto encontrado en Andrés lo coloco calladamente en el fondo levantando otros. Cuando llegó a la prominencia, fue siempre en nombre deotra persona. El trajo a su hermano, Pedro, a Jesús. El trajo a un joven y su almuerzo a Jesús. Trajo la petición de los Griegos a Jesús.

El reino de dios hoy tiene necesidad de personas dedicadas que, al igual que Andrés, son leales, fieles, y de apoyo.     

 

        

OBSCURE BUT SIGNIFICANT

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." John 1:35-42

We often have the mistaken idea that only the visible workers in the work of the Lord are worthy of consideration. We must not overlook the contribution of the steadfast supporters who are working for the Lord in obscure and less visible areas of God’s kingdom. Some of the greatest workers in the kingdom are too often little known and unnoticed. Yet the work they perform is much like the seasoning in good food. Andrew, a disciple of Jesus, was such a person.

The day after John the Baptist made his first public announcement of Jesus, his disciples began to seek Jesus out. The first two disciples to follow Jesus were Andrew and his friend John, the brother of James. When they found Jesus, they asked Him, “Where dwellest thou?”

They probably thought that it would be good to get to know more about Him. Jesus invited these two disciples of John to spend the evening with Him, exceeding their expectations. They became convinced that John’s announcement that Jesus was the Christ was true. They were compelled to tell their brothers about their discovery of the Christ and to lead them to Him.

Andrew is barely noticed by Christian historians and only mentioned six times by name in the New Testament. Yet we are indebted to this little-known disciple for bringing to Jesus his later well-known brother, Peter. What a ready-made missionary field our families provide! Andrew did not rush off to another field of labor. His first testimony was given to those at home.

On one occasion when a large crowd had followed Him, Jesus tested the faith of Philip when He asked him, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (Jn. 6:5). Philip, the practical person that he was, sized up the situation and with no faith for a solution replied, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may take a little.” The disciples suggested that Jesus send the multitude away because it was late in the day. Jesus said, “Give ye them to eat” (Mr. 6:3). The disciples failed the same test of faith that Philip had failed. They asked, “Shall we go and buy...and give them to eat?” (Mr. 6:37).

Andrew brought a boy and his lunch of five small barley loaves and two small fish to Jesus. He said, “But what are they among so many?” (Jn. 6:9). Andrew’s skeptical question was touched with just a hint of faith. Why would Andrew have bothered to bring the little lunch to Jesus if he did not think that Jesus would do something with it? Jesus acted upon Andrew’s suggestion at once.

 It is amazing to see what Jesus can do with our limited resources and little faith. He starts with what we have and blesses it that it may become sufficient for what we need. We should follow the example of Andrew and bring to Jesus what little we have in order for Him to multiply it.

One day a group of Greeks came to Philip and asked him to arrange for them to meet with Jesus. Philip consulted Andrew and both of them brought word to Jesus. When Andrew and Philip brought the request to Jesus for an interview with the Greeks, they opened the door for Him to teach on the true purpose of His death (Jn. 12:23-36).

Anyone that is obscure could be defined as not well known or not famous. Andrew, by comparison to his brother, Peter, was not well known or famous. Yet his life was significant and full of meaning and importance.

Jesus had an inner circle within His group of apostles. Peter, James and John were with Him when Jairus’ daughter was raised, at the transfiguration and during Jesus’ agonizing prayer in Gethsemane. These three men shared a special place of closeness with Jesus during several key events while Andrew and the others were outside of the inner circle.

Andrew’s older brother Peter, whom he had brought to Christ went on to be well known in the church. His experience was similar to that of a teacher whose student rises to greater acclaim than the one who taught him. Or, it was like a younger brother who's only public identity is his relationship to an older brother. Andrew was quietly unobserved as Peter boldly built a reputation of great acknowledgments of faith.

Andrew received no acclaim. There is no biblical record of any sermon that he preached or sacred writing written. Jesus did not recognize him for meritorious service or commend him for a great character. But that is not to say that he lacked greatness or was unworthy of such commendation. Rather, he seemed to be great in a quiet unassuming way. Indeed, the absence of a clamor for attention or personal credit are marks of his greatness and still are traits greatly to be desired!

Andrew exemplified the concept Jesus taught that “the first shall be last.” Although Andrew was the first disciple he was not in the foreground of leadership. Andrew was content to remain obscure. He did not make any effort to push ahead of the other apostles for attention. James and John pressed Jesus for positions of prominence in the coming kingdom, but this was not so of Andrew.

Apparently, there was no envy in the heart of Andrew toward the popular apostolic spokesman and leader, his brother. He displayed the pure essence of true love that “envieth not”. No evil jealousy corrupted Andrew’s heart.

Small people drop names and snip at the heels of those who are climbing past them. Few indeed are the individuals who are able to love, lead and then linger on the sidelines to cheer while others seem to pass them by.

THERE  IS  A  GREAT  NEED TO SUPPORT  PEOPLE  IN  THE  WORK  OF  GOD

“For the body (the church) is not one member, but many” (I Cor. 12:14).  When we think of the apostle Paul’s comparison of the human body and the body of Christ, the church, we are reminded of how important little things are. There is a need for more than just the prominent. Paul asked the question: “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?” The body would be out of balance if the head were only one large eye, or ears, or nose. "

Each one of us provides for the church a needed function that we have been called to do. Somebody must provide the behind-the-scenes support to make possible each activity in the church. We should be content to do our part in support of all who are depending upon us. Ultimately, Christ is counting on us to do all that He has called and ordained for us to do.

The value of small things in life can never be understated. There are many small and seemingly insignificant things in life upon which we depend completely. We know we can count on Jesus always to be the same, but can He depend on us? Will we be in the place where He has planted us? Every leader must have a dedicated staff of people upon whom he can depend. It has been said that the greatest ability in life is availability.

Much harm can come by individuals who, after serving successfully in a secondary capacity, grow restless and decide to go elsewhere where they can be a prominent leader. Such an impulsive move can cause confusion and disaster if the person has not been called to that place of leadership. It is much better that a person be content to labor faithfully in whatever capacity God has placed him until such a time as God would choose to move him into another area of service.

Following in the footsteps of Andrew is challenging. The unassuming character found in Andrew placed him quietly in the background lifting up others. When he came to prominence, it was always on behalf of someone else. He brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus. He brought a lad and his lunch to Jesus. He brought the Greeks’ request to Jesus.

The kingdom of God today is in need of dedicated people who, like Andrew, are loyal, faithful, and supportive.