Pastor’s Message for May 2021

A young executive, working from home, logged on to her computer to begin a ZOOM board meeting.  After hours of reports, projections, and minor debate, all agreed it was time for a lunch break.  Assuming she was following ZOOM etiquette by turning off her video and muting her sound, the young executive went about the business of preparing her lunch.  Mistakenly, she forgot to mute her laptop and began a chorus of the “I hate my job and coworker” blues.   While speaking on the phone to a close friend, she ranted about how she was not respected at her office and how her ideas were pushed to the side in favor of others with more experience.  The young executive then complained about how her boss was getting older and not adapting to the times.  His business IQ needed a “21^st century makeover” if the company was going to continue to be a leader in the industry.  Returning to her computer after lunch, she soon realized she had not muted her laptop and her lunchtime rant was heard by some of her colleagues.  Her heart sank when she realized they knew what she thought about them and how she viewed her work at the company. 

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

-Philippians 2:3-4

Many people, even believers, live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves.  But selfishness brings conflict.  Paul stressed spiritual unity, asking the Philippians to love one another and to be one in spirit and purpose.  The young executive could only see her input as valuable for the forward movement of the company.  Although her business acumen was on par with her colleagues, her inexperience may have kept her from viewing the whole picture.  For example, in my personal experience, attending seminary did not prepare me to pastor a church.  Although I have the tools in my educational toolbox to shepherd a church, I count on the knowledge of more experienced pastors to guide me along ministry’s winding road.  Navigating God’s winding road also requires help.  Having a relationship with Christ involves having a loving relationship with others.  To be involved in a relationship is to have a connection with another person, a connection based on love, humility, and mutual respect.  Therefore, a Christ-centered relationship cannot be one sided.  We must be interested in the well being of others, not just ourselves.  Selfishness can ruin a church, but genuine humility can build it. We are to lay aside our own wants and consider others’ needs as more important than our own.  Unlike the young executive, if we look at the big picture and place others’ interests before our own, we will show Christ’s love and humility to the world.  Now we have a perfect portrait of the church.

God’s blessing in all we do,
Pastor Ross