This weekend Seth Godin learned a "shocking" truth that many of us have known for a long time: that ministry can be tedious, boring, and uninspiring. It can become "just a job." As a matter of fact, it will.
Unless you are proactive against it.
There is a lot of pressure on ministers, particularly on those that are involved with music, to please people. Musicians are often hard-wired to seek confirmation and validation from others. I know I am. In ministry, this can even feel right. We love others, we serve them, we bless them, we may consider their tastes and preferences above our own. In return, we really hope they like us. If they do, we feel good and think that this ministry gig is not so bad after all. But this system is unsustainable. It's too people-focused and eventually someone is not going to like the way we do something. We burnout.
What to do? There's an interesting expression in the Bible that I try to remember: ministering to the Lord.* It's good to minister to others, being a worship leader requires it. But what's most important is that you are ministering to Him. And don't think you can do both at the same time. It's not that easy. These acts are sequential, not simultaneous.
I believe that the most important thing you can do as a worship leader is to first be a worshiper. Are you focusing on Him? Are you taking time for quiet reflection and prayer? Are you reading the Word? Are you worshiping Him on your own? Alone? Are you meditating on the Word? Are you letting the Word speak to you on it's own terms or are you just using it to plan your next church service or to write a song lyric?
It's tricky out there. Guard your heart.
I also struggle with this. What do you do to keep your music ministry from becoming "just a job"?
* See Ezekiel 44, Acts 13, and Revelation 1. Want more? See these blog posts by Jeff Goins and JD Walt.
Wow. A blog that mentions Seth Godin, church, and God. I think I'm in love. Just subscribed.
Thanks for the link.
You hit the nail right on the head... my head, that is. Thanks for that exhortation to seek the Lord's approval above all else. As I read, I couldn't help thinking that the "ministering to others" vs. "ministering to the Lord" dichotomy puts the senior pastor in the category of "others" secondary to the wishes of Christ and following His Spirit-leadership in leading worship.
... Hits my head too, Jay. Thanks for your comment.
Great reminder. People pleasing is a hard disease to cure and I think everyone in vocational ministry struggles with it on some level. If we're not careful it will cause us to become bitter toward the very people we are called to shepherd. Taking time to re-center on the Lord is crucial in my ministry.
This really hit home for me. I am not in the music ministry but am a pastor's wife. I have been very involved in our church in different leadership positions and just recently went thru a burn out spell. I came to a point were I was losing my focus on my own relationship with the Lord while trying to inspire others to draw closer to Him. I had to take a little time to back off and regroup and redirect my own focus for a while. A daily devotional that I have been using from a book called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young helped me find my way back to my own relationship. I was to a point that I could not even pray for myself the words would not come but on April 8th that days devotional helped to draw me back into the Lords loving arms. All I needed to do was Whisper His Name "Jesus". So I did and he took all those burdens away and He was with me, reviving my heart, mind, and soul. I still struggle daily but I can remember now that all I have to do is whisper His name and He is there. I felt a great and mighty power in my life on that day and will never forget it. Blessings to all and hope that this helps you as it did me.
Bless you, Sandra. And thanks for sharing. -- Jonathan