During one of my seminary classes, I was asked whether I am a people person or a goal oriented person. It was clear, at least in my own opinion, that I was a people person because I like people, I get along well with people and I also work well in a group setting. Apparently, that wasn’t the case. My professor who asked me that question looked at me and said that I am more of a goal oriented person. His response was very shocking to me but it was a well needed assessment of my life and the way I do ministry. I realized that my life was primarily driven by goals and the love of people has been pushed aside for the sake of reaching certain goals in life and ministry. To this day, I still struggle to be more mindful and caring for the people that I serve. There are many pastors and church leaders who deal with the same issue as I do because we are called to be shepherds who tend and care for their sheep rather than just getting our jobs done.
For the last few weeks, God has reminded me of the importance of shepherding through various oikos ministry trainings. As I was going through the oikos leaders’ training sessions, God convicted me of my role as a shepherd, not a hired hand. The heart of a shepherd that goes after one lost sheep is what I need to develop more in my life. God has already given me the heart of a shepherd but it’s been pushed out and covered up by the eagerness to achieve goals. Not only am I struggling with caring for the people, but I also need to let go of my selfish mindset and learn to work together with people even at the cost of my “desired” outcome. There is an old saying in Korean that comes to my mind, “it’s better to go one mile together than ten miles alone.” Yes, it is true that the process of accomplishing the goal might be delayed or may not even be reached at all, but that’s the way God wants us to live our lives. King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes chapter 3:8-12,
This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing. Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
I hope to practice more of being patient and caring with my own kids at home. How often do we ignore our kids’ needs or wants in the name of work, ministry and even for the sake of our personal space? I pray that God will open up our ears to hear, to respond, to treasure the people that He has blessed us with in our daily lives. That will be the very first step of becoming the shepherds God called us to be.
From Pastor Brian’s Heart
September 15, 2013