"I thank my God every time I remember you."(Philippians 1:3) Regret rises in my heart each time I read the verse. In my ministry, I thank God the most and secondly, myself, because of difficulties in my service.
However, there is a lack of real gratitude for my fellow workers despite that I convey some appreciative words to them.
Here are three forms of a lack of appreciation for church fellow workers:
Peer competition
Although there is no ranking in church ministries and church staff share different divisions of work, the divisions cause distinctions among church workers. It happens frequently that church workers at the same level, like preachers, elders, or team leaders, compete with their peers.
Too much competition brings about jealousy, causing blindness to seeing strengths in fellow workers and being critical of each other. Then animosities emerge in the church.
Team leaders lack guidance to their members.
Team leaders, like heads of choirs, ministries, youth fellowship, and bands, manage members who vary in backgrounds and characters.
I often hear complaints from such leaders that it's not easy to work for God. The complaints are not groundless. Employees must observe strict rules and regulations at work, but workers in the church are distinguished from secular work units, mostly volunteers, and are bound by their relationships with God in ministries.
When the way team leaders do things collides with members' tastes, some of them resist it and even affect other workers. Therefore, team leaders should guide their teams with love rather than assign tasks to the staff.Otherwise, they regard the staff's contributions as the completion of tasks instead of service.They certainly don't feel grateful for their teams.
In regard to false Christians who make trouble in ministries, take these verses for reference:"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."(Matthew 18:15-17)
Team members lack real obedience to their leaders.
Every church worker should learn to be obedient because there is always a higher administrator to oversee and guide any church work. Real obedience acts are appreciation to hard work by managers.
Some hot-tempered believers may straightforwardly point out problems of a ministry leader regardless of setting or time. Some are even proud of damaging the authority of leaders. How could those who have no fear of God's given authority thank the toil of leaders? On the contrary, another type of Christian acts upon whatever their leaders say. That is blind obedience.
Above all, we need to love one another and make connections with love that takes away our jealousy, pride, and blasphemy. In this way can we feel joy inspired by the same Spirit and truly thank our fellow workers.
- Translated by Karen Luo
