1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Paul charged Timothy to keep the church in Ephesus faithful to the apostle’s doctrine (1:3-4). He was to do this by avoiding other doctrines, myths, and endless genealogies.
The whole point of the charge given to Timothy is love.
Love is a big deal with God.
This probably has something to do with the fact that God is love. Could be.
Unfortunately, we’ve totally destroyed the word love. I have no idea what you think love means.
1 Corinthians 13 is the best biblical definition of love, but it’s long. Has a lot of verses. So maybe the ultimate best definition of love in the Bible is this: Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends. Or perhaps: God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The ultimate expression of love is the Gospel itself. That God the Creator died for His rebellious creation. Amazing love how can it be, that thou my God shouldst die for me?
Having all the right doctrine along with the ability to avoid evil impulses in your ministry is all good, but if there’s no love, you’ll have problems.
This harks back to 1 Corinthians 13: if you have all knowledge and yet no love, it profits you nothing. Knowledge puffs up, it’s what it does. Knowledge needs love.
Love rejoices in the truth. Therefore, one must conclude that love sometimes hurts. Only a loving father corrects his son.
This love is no joke. Proving you love someone by saying you do is not the deal. This love is to come from a PURE heart, GOOD conscience, and SINCERE faith.
All those words mean the same thing: undiluted, genuine, true and honest by any examination.
You can’t play at love.
If a pastor does not love the people under his charge, he will not feed or protect them. There are many hirelings in the church today, pastors who are in it for the money, power, prestige, the challenge of growing an institution, or for who knows what fleshly reason.
The only reason for anyone to be a pastor is to give yourself away serving others. You do this through the proper understanding and teaching of God’s Word. This will first of all change your life, and then spread to change lives around you.
If you’re not approaching your ministry with love, your doctrine will suffer and the people under your care will suffer.
There are pastors in the ministry for wrong reasons. They don’t love the people, oh they say they do, they do showy things to make it appear as though they love, but most are getting selfish gain for their public displays. I’ve heard many pastors bad-mouth the people in their churches or mock them when they aren’t around.
There are a lot of these guys.
Timothy was not supposed to be one of those guys.
If you don’t love the people, if you’re not willing to sacrifice yourself and what you have for them, if you’re not willing to get paid less, or not have days off, it’s possible you don’t love the people.
I know, I know, there should be healthy boundaries etc. From a human and business perspective, of course. Duh.
From the standpoint of your Savior who gave Himself for you, maybe not. The Apostle Paul said, “I die daily.” He didn’t say, “I die daily, I mean, except for my days off. I mean we all need sabbaticals and days off. Oh and I better be compensated fairly for that too. Holiday pay right?”
I’m sure this is dangerous advice and causes pastors to burn out and destroy their mental health.
Oh well. Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We’re too soft in our day. We’re also too busy doing tons of stuff that no church or pastor should be doing. Busy work is what’s burning people out, not actual ministry and teaching the Word.
Get your priorities right. Cut the junk that is not edifying people. Give yourself away. Take up your cross and deny yourself. Whoever loses His life for Jesus’ sake will find it. Stop being a wuss. Instead, get biblical perspectives and priorities and give yourself over to your Commander and Shepherd who gave His life for you.
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Failing Pastor 