A big, burly man visited the pastor’s home and asked to see the minister’s wife, a woman well known for her charitable giving.
“Madam,” he said in a broken voice, “I wish to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this district. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned into the cold, empty streets unless someone pays their rent, which amounts to $400.”
“How terrible!” exclaimed the preacher’s wife. “May I ask who you are?”
The sympathetic visitor applied his handkerchief to his eyes.
“I’m the landlord,” he sobbed.
That is not really uncommon. People regularly ask for money from pastors, and most pastors do a lot on a little. Most men who serve Jesus as pastors spend a lot of time loving, serving, praying, caring for those that God has put in their charge. I know there are the charlatans out there who seem to be after money, but the truth is the vast majority of men in the pastorate are great servants who never got into ministry for the sake of a salary. They received a charge from the Lord to care for His sheep.
Jesus confronted the Apostle Peter, the great pastor figure in the New Testament, after he had denied Him three times. Peter was standing with the other apostles and Jesus picked him out and challenged him. Three times the Savior points to Peter, in front of all the other disciples, and makes him answer the question, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Jesus was aiming at something that all of us pastors must reckon with. Are we pastoring His people out of a love for Him or for some other reason? Three times He does this. Peter had just denied Jesus three times in front of others. Now he is facing the one he truly loves. Ouch!!
So if Peter really loves the Savior, how will he show it? Will he fast and pray for 40 days? Will he deny himself some privilege that he would enjoy? Will he do a long pilgrimage? Go to synagogue every day for a year? No, none of those things. Look at what Jesus asks of him.
“…Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17
Jesus told Peter, “If you really love me and this is not just a religious show, if you really want to do for Me what is important, take care of My people.”
This is true not just for pastors. The church is to be a place where people show how they love Jesus by serving and loving His people. So many times people think that God is looking for some great sacrifice-like being a missionary to Africa or going on a long fast.
Matthew 9:13 (NASB) Jesus said “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Hosea 6:6 (NKJV)
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Instead of thinking about what great personal sacrifice we could do to pay God back for how He has forgiven us (what a crazy thought to think you could pay back God for the cross!), just start caring for some of his people. Find a single mom who needs help. Buy her groceries. Take her kids to the movies or out to eat. Give to some missionaries. I guarantee the Savior will think you love Him as you do these things “unto the least of them”.