There are a lot of stresses in ministry that some folk never see. This is especially true of pastors. They get a lot of criticism, but walking a mile in their shoes would be a great revelation. Reminds me of that passage... [i]speaking evil of things that they understand not...[/i] Armchair quarterbacking is a lot different than being on the field in the heat of the moment.
One of the great stresses is the constant care of the churches. Paul no doubt, as do others, feels the [i]weight[/i] of the care of the people of God. Some are lame but not yet out of the way and getting them back on track for God without them backsliding is [u]stressful[/u]. Paul the apostle writing to Philippi was concerned for the peoples 'state' (Philip. 2) and wanted to send Timothy who also was concerned for their 'state'. This concern, on top of all the other stresses of life takes a HUGE toll on a person. Wondering, "Is my labor going to be in vain?" Will they still be serving God when I hear from them again?
Some people are so spiritually weak that they seem to make it almost day to day. Grievous wolves are always looking to destroy the flock and many times these things are beyond our control. I met a man a few months ago who told me he goes around from church to church 'straitening them out' and 'straitening the pastor out.' Some people wist not their own foolery (folly). Never having lifted a finger in their life to shepherd a flock in any real sense they somehow have the answer. Mind boggling it is. Really its just evidence of a greater epidemic of being juvinal.
I can testify personally to the stresses of ministry. People being unpredictable and 'in' one minute and 'out' the next. Not knowing who will be backslid tomorrow or moving to another field to work. Elijah suffered from this stress when he declared himself to be the only person still serving God. But God has many who had no bowed the knee to the image of Baal. One minute ready to charge hells gates with a water pistol and the next minute running from Jezebel. Been there and done that.
On top of this I think of the passage in Daniel 7:25a:
And he (antichrist) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High...
The spirit of antichrist has long been in the land and he is seeking to 'wear out' the saints. So FEW doing so MUCH. Many talking but few in the fields working. Many critical and complaining... but few with a tool in hand. It simply wears out those who are going about the work.
