How to Avoid Being or Appearing Lazy in Your Ministry

Written by Jack Ridlehoover

Whether your laziness is real or merely perceived, your work, your witness, and your words are diluted when you appear to be lazy to others.

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Three ways not to deal with the accusations.

• Do not remind people how hard you are working.
• Do not publish a detailed record of where you have been, what you have done, or who you have seen.
• Do not develop a “poor me” attitude of being overworked and under paid as God’s called servant.

Most church members are not responsive to these approaches. Your church members work hard as well and believe you should work hard without complaint.

Here are four steps you can take when your critics accuse you of being lazy.

1. Evaluate Your Ministry
The evaluation should be in the light of Scripture and in an effort to constantly improve your ministry. Self-evaluation is an honest analytical look at who you are, what you are doing, your potential, and your performance in your present place of service. Also ask others (such as your wife and an objective and trusted friend) to help you evaluate your evaluation.

• If you are giving your best in the details of the work of ministry, you should have an inward peace and a clear conscience.
• If you are not giving your best, or if you are accused of not giving your best, you should consider the next step in evaluation.

2. Examine the Priorities of Your Ministry
The examination should cover what you feel are your priorities and what the people you serve feel should be your priorities. Consider the responsibilities of preaching, pastoring, leading, and availability to meet the crisis times of the people. You may be working hard, yet accused of being lazy, because you would rather do it yourself than allow others to help.

The question of priorities is “How am I meeting the first things first in the ministries to which God called me.”

3. Communicate Your Plans
Communicate your plans, purpose, desires, and dedication to your people and ask for their help. The best time to do this is when beginning in a new ministry but you can still do this in your present ministry. Consider adopting a written covenant agreement.

Work through accepted channels of your congregation to redefine a work agreement or job description. This new agreement may lead to some new responsibilities as well as a process of delegating some responsibilities to other leaders.

4. Do the Work
It all finally comes down to actually doing the work of ministry. It is the among the hardest work on earth, regardless of the position of ministry. It can be the most misunderstood work on earth.

The One who called us said, “We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. John 9:4 (HCSB).” Ministry is no picnic, but it can be filled with joyful satisfaction and fun when you as a minister can come to the end of each day knowing you have worked faithfully for God and His people.

Jack Ridlehoover is the Executive Director of Minister's Mentoring and Consulting Services, Abeline, Texas. Adapted by Craig Webb and Henry Webb from a previously published article.