From Bishop Jemmott’s Shepherd to Shepherd article for September 2014 entitled: “People Will Aggravate You”:

Being a leader is not as easy as some people think. Most people only see the results of good leadership; they don’t see what the leader had to undergo in order to get the people to buy-in to his or her vision or style of leadership. They see a successful business, organization or church and admire the results, however they have no idea about the struggles, hardships and setbacks the leader had to endure in order to achieve success.

Sometimes the journey to success is a bumpy road filled with criticism from the very people we are trying to lead. They attend church on Sunday, only to go home and have us as the main topic of conversation during their Sunday meal. I would like to believe that the conversation was a positive one, however most of the time the conversation about us is not necessarily positive. If we were to eavesdrop, it would sound as if we can’t do anything right. We may hear comments such as, the sermon was not challenging, we should not have asked for that special offering or how dare we preach about sin. After all, we live in the 21st century the age of enlightenment, and we don’t need a preacher to tell us how to live our lives.

Well pastors, we are not alone. Moses the great deliverer, the lawgiver and leader of a mega-church had some of the same problems. Listen to his complaint:

“Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the LORD became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. And Moses said to the LORD, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?”
Numbers 11:10-11 (NLT)

Like Moses, we have heard the complaints, the murmuring, and we are aggravated! We feel like all that we do is in vain, and we ask God the same question, “What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?” Some of us may feel like the young man who woke up one Sunday morning and decided not to go to church because the members of the church did not like him. His mother insisted that he had to attend. Finally in frustration he asked his mother to give him one good reason why he should go to church, to which she replied “You are the pastor.” Funny, but if you are like me I sometimes feel that way.

Here is a word Paul gave to young pastor Timothy, “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT)

Yes! In spite of how you feel, I charge you to keep preaching, keep teaching, keep encouraging, and keep rebuking and use your words to the glory of God. Never compromise your message, because your success will come when you focus on God, and not on the people.

Be Blessed!

Bishop Jemmott

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