As an undergraduate college student I considered myself a very busy
person, with all the classes, assignments, campus jobs, club meetings, social
activities, et al. Then after a number of post-college years outside “the
bubble,” I realized how comparatively light my college schedule actually was!
If attempting to accomplish multiple tasks is likened to juggling, I was
learning to handle a few ping pong balls in school compared to the numerous
bowling balls I was trying to keep in the air years later.
I have had the privilege of working as an unmarried evangelist, a married and
childless evangelist, and a married evangelist with children. Each of these
situations has its own unique benefits and challenges. As a single man, I
certainly had more time to devote to the Lord’s work without worrying about
neglecting a family (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:32-35). The problem is, others were
more than willing to step in and occupy my time and attention, and there was no
one else in my life to help redirect my focus and to balance out the work load.
As a family man, to the already demanding juggling routine were added some
major bowling balls that I absolutely could not afford to drop. While my wife,
followed by our first child and then our second, were (and still are) huge
blessings to me, the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle became much more daunting.
Then came the doctoral studies on top of a full-time job and a full-time
family. The world record for the most bowling balls juggled is three, and I was
attempting to do even more. It didn’t take long to realize that there were
literally not enough hours in a day or enough energy in my limited reserves to
accomplish all that needed to be done.
“Therefore look carefully how you are walking, not as unwise but as wise,
redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).1
The essence of what Paul is saying here is captured in familiar renderings such
as, “making the most of your time” (NASB), “making the best use of your time”
(ESV), and “making the most of every opportunity” (NIV). But these popular
translations have missed a subtle yet significant nuance in the text.
The present participial form of exagorazō (lit. “redeeming,” cf.
ASV, N/KJV) is employed in the original. The verb itself means to exchange one
thing for another, while the present tense conveys a continual or ongoing
action. The implication is that everyone has been entrusted with a limited
amount of time each day, gradually adding up to a lifetime. Paul is admonishing
his readers to carefully consider the things they regard as so important that
they are willing to exchange for them the precious time that has been placed in
their hands.
THE PREACHER’S DESK
The expression “desk” is used here as a synecdoche, inclusive of the preacher’s
office, library, and/or computer. As ministers of the gospel, our desks can be
one of our best allies or one of our worst enemies. While we do not wear
official titles, there are several descriptive terms that identify what we are
called to do. A preacher preaches, a teacher instructs, a minister serves, and
an evangelist evangelizes. I cannot do an effective job as a preacher or a
Bible teacher by avoiding my desk, and I cannot realistically do the work of a
minister or an evangelist while at my desk.
The number of blog posts and published articles and plethoric comments on
social media from some preachers give the impression that they are hardly ever
away from their computers. No doubt a certain amount of good can be
accomplished through the widespread dissemination of written words via the
Internet. However, the biggest impact we will ever make on people’s lives is
not going to happen while sitting alone at a computer.
Evangelism, i.e. effectually communicating the good news of Christ’s message to
those who are unfamiliar with it, is the essential work of an evangelist.
Obviously one cannot legitimately be described as an evangelist if he is not
actively engaged in evangelizing. If this happens to be the case because too
many additional activities have been allowed into the juggling routine, why is
it that evangelism usually gets dropped before so many other endeavors of far
lesser consequence? Am I hoping that someone somewhere in the world is reading
what I’m posting on the web, while there are scores of individuals in my own
community who are not being reached?
The sad reality is that many (most?) of our congregations are not growing as
they should, and souls are not being saved in significant numbers. If members
of the church have somehow come to believe that evangelism is solely the job of
a religious professional, they clearly need to be taught otherwise (cf. 2
Corinthians 5:17-21). But if the preacher himself is not evangelizing, he has
forfeited one of his very best teaching tools – his own example (cf. 1
Corinthian 4:16; 11:1; 2 Timothy 3:10; 4:5).
I cannot effectively communicate God’s word without sufficient time invested in
study and preparation. Neither can I effectively communicate God’s word if I am
not connected with those I am trying to reach. Too little time behind the desk
and my teaching and preaching suffer. Too much time behind the desk and my
ministry and evangelism suffer. There has to be a consistent balance.
--Kevin
L. Moore
Endnote:
1 Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations in English are
the author’s own translation.
Published in So
You Want to Be a Preacher, ed. David Powell. Henderson, TN: Freed-Hardeman
University, 2013: 220-29.
Related Posts: Achieving Balance Part 2, Part 3
Related Articles: Jeremiah Tatum's Advice for Younger Preachers
Related Articles: Jeremiah Tatum's Advice for Younger Preachers
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