|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
If we have not encountered the case of true loyalty and disloyalty, not to worry soon we are bound in ministry to experience it, but we must understand that as pastors both cases of loyalty and disloyalty must be responded to, so as to promote one and kill the flow of the other in its tracks. We often ignore loyalty and focuses on reacting to disloyalty. So sir/ma sit back, evaluate your team and respond accordingly to each of them.
Some of the Bible verses on loyalty includes: Easy-to-Read version of the scriptures says in
Proverbs. 21:21 (People who try hard to do good and be faithful will find life, goodness and honour), Proverbs. 17:17 (A friend loves you all the times, but a brother was born to help in times of trouble);
Firstly, we look at loyalty:
CHARACTERISTICS OF A LOYAL STEWARD
1. Involves actively in the things of church whether in the presence or absence of the church leadership.
2. Shows a high level of commitment in the things of God.
3. Enthusiasm about the vision, plans and programmes of the church.
4. Obedient to the directives instructions of the Church leadership.
5. Does not depart from the gathering and fellowship of the brethren.
6. Gives sacrificially to the things of God and also takes care the leadership in the church.
7. Speaks positively and proudly of the Church.
8. Never speaks ill of a fellow believer or the leadership of the church.
9. Contributes to the growth of the church numerically and spiritually.
10. Possess the ability to receive and accept corrections.
11. Abide and follow keenly every biblical and church doctrine.
12. Seeks and protect the interest of the church leadership against the devil.
HOW A PASTOR CAN RESPOND TO LOYALTY STEWARD
1. Recognise and acknowledge loyal stewards.
2. Follow through on commitments towards them.
3. Encourage them publicly and openly
4. Commit higher assignment into their hands as a sign that you trust them
5. Bring them closer, as they are capable to giving quality counsel.
6. Pray for them and all that concerns them publicly and privately
7. Never be ashamed of identifying yourself and the church with them when the need arises
8. Gifts and awards for excellence performance can be presented to them during special occasions
9. Promote them to leadership role that they might influence others positively and encourage loyalty in others
10. We must show appreciation for diligent and loyal service in any form no matter how little, for what we appreciate gets reinforced which produces positive behaviour.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISLOYAL STEWARD
1. Betray you when you are going throught challenging and crisis times
2. Betray you when they are in difficult times. Prov. 25:19
3. Stewards that lacks financial integrity John 12:6
4. Stewards that lacks self control and are morally decay.
5. Stewards that see you as a competitor and sees themselves as a better replacement for you
6. Stewards with high level of Carnality and wordiness
7. A proud and arrogant steward that cannot be corrected and too difficult to work with (II Sam 16:11)
8. A bittered and hurtful minded fellow spreading ill news about the church and the pastor.
9. A steward who shows displeasure at a request for menial jobs at vital moments (Luke 22:27)
10. Always finding reasons to violate church directives and gives reasons to justify their continuous disobedience
HOW A PASTOR CAN RESPOND TO DISLOYAL STEWARD/DISLOYALTY
1.Avoid bitterness and hatred. There will be pain and hurts but ensure one does not lose ones spirit to the hands of the bitterness, we can see it as a time to learn and understand human nature and their limitations
2.Avoid overreacting, ensure that every action taken is spirit led. Overreacting might make us commit more damages not just to ourselves but also to others who are innocent around us.
3.Avoid generalizing the act of disloyal. It is common among leaders who feels betrayed to take out the punishments on other workers thereby having trust issues with their members.
4.Examine the issues involved carefully and prayerfully, never use the tool of suspicion in handling the case. Gather your findings and facts correctly; examine all findings and verify them accurately.
5.Seek for wisdom from the Holy Spirit and consult matured fathers of faith who are your mentors.
6.Pray very well to know what angle God will want you to handle. It is a declaration of war by the devil over the church, finish the battle on your knees
7.Confront the issue as a leader whether the issue is true or false
8.Arrange to meet these individuals to discuss the issue that is causing trouble and determine the necessary course of actions to stop the conflicts from spreading.
9.Carry the key members of the leadership of your church/ministry along in the deliberations and decision making so as to avoid misinformation and misinterpretation as to the root cause and necessary cause of actions.
10.Don’t dismiss the probability of repentance but strong disciplines must be issue to everyone who is due for it. In cases of irreparable situations and the disloyal shows no sign of remorse, termination is advised. Whosoever want to leave, please let them leave.
11.Measure the weight of damage done to the church and embark on a retreat as a family to kill the poison of betrayal and disloyal amidst the entire Church/Ministry.
12.Teach against Disloyalty as many members are just too ignorant about this. Many becomes victims of a bittered disloyal stewards betrayal camp because no one spells what rebellion fully entails. So teach your members topics on Loyalty, Rebellion, Bitterness, hurts and offended as Christian and as stewards
Pst Oluwatuyi Niyi
crcinfo2004@gmail.com
Tel: 08077814990
churchresuscitation.blogspot.com
https://facebook.com/olaniyi.oluwatuyi
