1 Timothy 3:6 (KJV)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
I remember attending a preachers' fellowship meeting about 30 years ago when a new pastor from the state was invited to preach.[1] This new pastor, a church planter, had served 20 years as an assistant pastor in one church.[2] As he preached with confidence, tact, and truth, I thought to myself, “This is why it’s no waste of time to serve under a ministry for many years before pastoring.” He was indeed “not a novice.” He has proven himself through a long, consistent ministry.
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that we ought to redefine the term "novice." I’ve witnessed dozens of young, ambitious men enter the ministry, seemingly building ministries, only to fall in various ways—some sexually, some financially, and some doctrinally.[3]
A wise worker understands that it’s not a waste of time to sharpen their tools. An axe fells a tree with much more efficiency if it’s kept sharp. The preacher who spends many years in preparation (after those years in college) has not wasted anything. His ministry will accomplish so much more, and his work will last significantly longer than the high-energy efforts of youthful labor.
I know there are exceptions. Some young men prove themselves to be faithful servants of God, but they demonstrate this over time.
It’s never a waste of time to spend ample time—lots of it—proving that they are not novices before entering the ministry.
#SpiritualMaturity #NotANovice #PastoralWisdom #BiblicalPreparation #MinistryLongevity
No Waste of Time: Three Key Lessons from Long-Term Preparation
[1] At that time, I had been pastoring for about 10 years.
[2] His name, Steve Brown, in Salem, Oregon
[3] Of course, those who fall doctrinally often mock this description, believing that they have advanced doctrinally instead.
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