I can’t believe I’m writing this article.
I had always assumed that Christ-followers would always model a healthy work ethic, especially if they’re paid to engage ministry. My assumption is challenged, though, by a growing culture of laziness infecting many of our church staff teams. I know there are some staff cultures that have the opposite problem. Staff are overworked and the Sabbath is a commandment that’s disregarded. Generally, though, I’m finding that laziness is a more pervasive challenge.
Just as a reminder, laziness is a sin and it has consequences. Here’s one of many passages from the Bible addressing this topic:
“I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” (Proverbs 24:30-34, NLT)
Too many church staff teams lack hustle. Then, when they’re pushed to put in the hard work, they complain about how difficult ministry can be. It’s time for a bit of a reality check.
Normal people don’t get Friday and Saturday off from ministry. They work 40 hours or more each week and then they use their weekends and evenings to engage with the church. If more church staff had to follow a similar schedule, I’m convinced we’d have far less ministry programming and events competing for people’s time.
Normal people don’t get flexible schedules to care for children or other family members. They’re on the clock and, if anything, they have to use a limited number of sick days or vacation days to help at home. I can’t tell you how many times I see both husband and wife working outside the home, and the person on church staff is the one who stays home with the sick child. Be grateful you have that flexibility, because normal people do not.
Normal people don’t get study breaks and sabbaticals. As an example, I’ve been working full-time for more than 25 years, and I’ve never had more than 2 weeks off at any one time. I’m not complaining. That’s just what normal people have to do to provide for their families. I’m an advocate for study breaks and sabbaticals. There are some marketplace organizations that offer them as well. Just be sensitive to how you talk about them, and recognize the blessing you have to refresh and renew that most people do not have.
Normal people work jobs that are demanding. I know that it takes a lot of physical, emotional and spiritual energy to preach four or five times each weekend, for example. However challenging that might be, my guess is that there are people in your congregation who have jobs that are more demanding than yours. Because of that, normal people have a difficult time understanding why you complain about how wiped out you are on Monday morning.
Here’s the big challenge:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
Some of you just need to suck it up. Give your job your best effort. Many people would love to have the job you have. You have flexibility and benefits that most people crave.
With that privilege, you should work hard. Then take a Sabbath and rest well. The paid staff of a church should be the healthiest in this area of anyone. The staff should model a great work ethic… and they should model a great rest ethic.
You need to work hard before you can rest well.
