The Personal Pain of Public Gain (Part 2)

I think that Samuel Chand has some great things to say about leadership. He is an author and leader of the Leadership Network. I once heard him say (paraphrased), “There are many great preachers and teachers but preaching does not build churches. Great preachers can be found in storefront churches anywhere you go. But it takes a leaders thresh-hold for pain to build a church.” I once posed the thought to a leader in our movement who had years and years of pastoral experience at a pastor’s training. His response was exactly the opposite. I do not know if he was being coy or just trying to mock my response, but I found his blank look interesting.

A great author understood that personal pain often precedes pubic gain. A.W. Tozer said, “It is doubtful that God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”

What types of pain do we experience when God is trying to elevate us?

1. Loneliness. Pain is a lonely experience. There can be seasons when not even your wife or husband understand your pain. Sometimes God will allows us to make that journey alone.

2. Personalities. Remember that not everyone is on your team. Christians can be brutal sometimes. I once had a guy tell me, “Guys like you don’t make it in this ministry very long.” That was a tough one. I was like, “Thanks.” There are so many other stories, but I will spare you the details. Remember, the bigger the church the more diverse the personalities. Personalities cause pain. Also, beware of the old “backhanded compliment”, like “Your blessed, but…”

3. Stress. Life can be like a batting cage, one ball after another. God allows us to have to face every pitch that comes our way. I have found that there are seasons when I have no personal family time, or time even to get a haircut. I love getting hair cuts.

4. Ungratefulness. I do not think that there is anything more painful for a person than to righteously help someone only to be talked about or scrutinized unfairly. I am not talking about getting a “thank you”. I am talking about selflessly stepping out to help a person whether it be family, or fellow pastor or friend, only to have them shoot negative energy at you or your ministry. “Dude, just say thank you and take 2 steps back from the rope.” 

When Jesus was on the cross, the pharisees mocked him. As he hung there to die for there sins, they shouted, “Come down from the cross. If you do, we will believe…” Jesus’ response…“forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Pastor Al