Years ago, A. W. Tozer penned, “We’re here to be worshippers first and workers only second. We take a convert and immediately make a worker out of him. God never meant it to be so. God meant that a convert should learn to be a worshipper, and after that he can learn to be a worker. The work done by a worshipper will have eternity in it.”

If you haven’t figured it out by now, many pitfalls exist in ministry. At the top of the list of dangers that pastors and staff members must avoid is substituting work for God as worship of God. After almost 30 years in ministry, I will be the first to admit that there is much work to be done, especially if one takes the task of the Great Commission seriously. The “to do” list seems endless at times.

Recently, I had a dear friend share a pastor’s job description that he had discovered in a church newsletter. As I carefully read those words, I found myself nodding with agreement. See if you may relate too.

The ABC’s of The Pastor’s Role:

A – Ambassador, advocate, administrator, activator B – Baptizer, building usage consultant, budget juggler C – Confidante, confronter, community builder, counselor, coach, cheerleader D – Discussion leader, divorce mediator, detail freak E – Encourager, emotional baggage handler, evangelist, educator, evaluator F – Funeral companion, father, friend G – Grace giver, grounds inspector H – Historian, homelitician, hospice worker, hiker I – Interpreter, issue classifier J – Justice seeker, judicatory responder, janitor, joker K – Knowledge dispenser, kid L – Latent gift discoverer, liturgist, leader M – Mediator, missionary, moderator, musician N – Nurturer, nurse, nudger O – Organizer, opportunity spotter P – Public speaker, problem solver, preacher, patriot, proof-reader, pilgrim Q – Questioner, quarterback R – Reviewer, Roberts’ Ruler S – Spokesperson, spiritual director, shepherd, social worker, steward, spouse T – Teacher trainer U – Unifier, utility player V – Volunteer coordinator, vision caster, visitor W – Wedding ceremony presider, writer X – X-traordinary ingenuity with limited resources (like figuring a way to use X) Y – Youth advocate, Yule celebrator Z – Zeal stoker, zoo keeper (so it seems, some days)

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Whew! If you have been in ministry for two nanoseconds, I am confident you would be able to add items to this lengthy list. A pastor who is committed to doing the work of ministry by first being a worshipper will, Tozer said, “have eternity in it.” In other words, work that flows out of worship has a never-ending impact.

Imagine that you are standing next to a ripple-free pond or lake. Reaching down you clutch a smooth stone. With a flick of your wrist, you “skip” the stone across the water. From center to circumference, the entire body of water is impacted by the ripple effect. Pastor, when it comes to our tireless efforts there, is a ripple effect from our worship too! Staying healthy in ministry includes protecting your time with God.

Jesus understood the importance of protecting His time with the Father. Oh, how the Savior prayed! He prayed early in the morning (Mark 1:35) and in the evening (Matthew 14:23). He often prayed alone (John 6:15) and also when people were present (Matthew 11:25-26). Luke tells how Jesus prayed all night (6:12). He prayed during one of His miracles (John 11:41-42). He asked a blessing at meals (Luke 9:16; 24:30; Matthew 15:36; 26:26-27). Major decisions in His life were preceded by prayer. Since the “Spirit drove Him” (Mark 1:12) into the wilderness for the temptation by Satan, it is likely that He was in a state of prayer immediately after His baptism. His decision to leave Capernaum and preach in “the other cities also” (Luke 4:42-43) followed His praying. Luke 6:12-13 tells us that Jesus prayed all night before selecting His most intimate relationships, the twelve disciples. Jesus prayed during personal needs and crises like Gethsemane (Mathew 26:39). Even His final words on the cross are a prayer–“Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit” (Luke 23:46). The King of the Universe felt the need, and exercised every opportunity, to spend time with His Father.

As mere mortals, so should we. How does a busy pastor juggle the multiple tasks of ministry while developing and exercising a spiritual discipline of personal prayer? Once again, Jesus is our model. Mark 1:35 indicates the actions He took that encourage me to keep a personal vigil.

• Discipline: Jesus prayed early. We all have 24 hours each day. Spending time with the Master is a personal choice. Friend, there is nothing a busy pastor may do that is more important that prayer before he prays and nothing more important than to pray after he prays. Develop this spiritual discipline and experience divine visitation.

• Determination: Jesus took action daily. Mark tells us it was “early,” and “still dark,” when Jesus “got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place.” This shows determination on our Lord’s part. Remember, the devil will do anything to keep a busy pastor from the prayer closet. I repeat, Anything! Friend, do you harbor a prayerless heart? Have you fallen prey to the evil ploy of the adversary? Paul’s remedy for such a malady in recorded in Ephesians 6:1-18.

• Devotion: Jesus prayed. Pastor, long before you were called to the occupation of ministry, God called you to an everlasting preoccupation with Him. Every day before the sun kissed the morning shadows, Jesus prayed. Need some help getting started (or revived) in your prayer life? Here are four ways to help you protect your time with God.

Settle your mind. A fruitful prayer life begins with a choice.

Set a time. Protect that divine appointment at all costs.

Still your heart. If you are too busy to pray, you’re too busy!

Select accountability. Ask a close friend, a deacon or fellow pastor to hold you accountable in this area.

**Adapted from an article of the same title by Dr. John S. Powers