The Most Effective Use of Time in Pastoral Ministry

Pastoral ministry is open-ended; there’s always something you could be doing. But just because there is something you could be doing doesn’t mean it’s the most effective use of your time. The tension you face in ministry is knowing there’s always a boatload of tasks that should be done, but not all of them are created equally. Making matters more complicated is the seductive, self-deceptive feeling of success when we respond to text messages, send email newsletters, or show up to the outreach team meetings. Pastors can easily mistake busyness for productivity.

You might remember the seven chosen to serve the Hellenistic widows in Acts 6. The church's growth in the community created administrative problems in the church and led to some widows being neglected. The apostles were approached about the problem and replied: “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables” (Acts 6:2). They also added, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

Caring for widows is crucially important. And somebody’s got to serve the tables. Serving tables is a good thing to do and so is posting on the church’s social media channels and sending church-sponsored email newsletters. But there are more spiritual, sacred tasks that distinctly relate to the office of the pastor that should take top priority. Those sacred, spiritual things that specifically relate to the pastor's ministry are praying and studying the Scriptures. Stated differently, if pastoral productivity relates to spending your time on your most effective priorities, then the most effective thing you can do is devote yourself to the ministry of the Word and prayer.

In a 21st-century world where pastors are pressured to act as CEOs or leadership gurus, it can be easy to overlook the sacredness of ministry. Directional and organizational leadership is essential for advancing a church. No one would dispute that management skills are valuable for a pastor. However, being overly influenced by secular visions for vocation can lead to pressure to “make something happen” and keep you occupied with tasks that are unrelated to pastoral ministry. Prayer and the ministry of the Word are not the only responsibilities a pastor should have, but they should be the primary focus. Time and again, as I reflect on the most effective use of my time, I find myself returning to the Word and prayer.

Devote Yourself to the Ministry of the Word and Prayer

Word

Being dedicated to the Word starts with your devotional time. It means regularly reading the Bible devotionally in an unhurried manner. It means regularly reading Bible studies, Bible dictionaries, and serious Bible reference books to help you grow in your understanding of the Word. One of the best compliments you can get as a preacher is when someone says, “I can tell you put a lot into that sermon.” On the contrary, one of the worst impressions you can give someone when you preach is that you are unprepared.

One of the most dangerous pastoral situations is when you are experiencing success in ministry, but are neglecting the means of grace in your private life. This will undoubtedly eventually lead to moral failure, a domineering spirit, burnout, etc. When things are bad, devote yourself to the Word. When things are good, devote yourself to the Word. In every and all season of ministry life, devote yourself to the Word.

Prayer

Prayer is also time well spent in ministry. You can always be sure that you’re using your time wisely when you are praying for yourself, your family, and the people in your church. Prayer, of course, goes hand in hand with action. When Ezra discovered God’s people had married those with pagan worship practices, he lamented and prayed. And then he got up and took action. We don’t just sit around all day and pray, but we don’t take decisive action without first seeking the Lord in prayer.

So prayer for you might look like this:

• Private prayer

• Praying with your wife

• Praying with your family

• Praying with your elders

• Praying with your church

• Praying with other pastors

• Praying throughout the day

Pastor, how will you spend your time this week? This month? This year? Don’t allow the secular 21st-century influences on work to pressure you to undermine the sacredness of your calling. While there is always something you can be doing, the most effective use of your time is in prayer and studying the Word.