READ: 2 Thessalonians 3:4-18
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
Pastors must develop the ability to be examples. Being an example to your flock is as important as teaching them the Word of God. Actually , people learn more from the example you set than from the teachings you give them. A pastor’s life is under constant scrutiny. His marriage is observed by the church members. His home is assessed by the people. The car he drives is of great interest to many . Many people ask the questions, “What kind of car does he drive? Where does he live? What does he eat? Who are his friends? Where does he get money from? Where is he?”
There are two unspoken reasons for this kind of scrutiny . The first reason is that many are looking for the opportunity to criticise a bad example set by the pastor. The other reason is that many people want to follow him. You would be surprised at how many people follow the dressing, hairstyles, type of car and other minor aspects of a pastor’s life. Poor people look at the example of the pastor to see if their kind is accepted in the church. Rich people equally look at the example of the pastor to see if rich people are welcome.
Develop the art of being a good example. You must accept that your pastoral calling will limit you for the rest of your life. You will not be able to do certain things if you want to be a good example. Always remember that the art of being a good example is different from your teaching ministry , which lays out principles for the sheep to follow.
