Report Cards in Heaven by Michael Mckinley
Something that the T4G guys talked about at the conference in April has been chewing on the inside of my brain. I think it was Lig Duncan who said it, and then the whole gang discussed it. But the gist of the quote is: pastors don’t get their report cards until heaven.
Now, in context, this quote was meant to be encouraging. If you’re serving faithfully as the pastor of a church and you’re not seeing much evident fruit, then be encouraged. Pastors don’t get their report cards until heaven. Don’t allow yourself to be judged by the world’s standard. Your “report card” will be based on your faithfulness, not your evident fruitfulness. Look forward to the day when you will hear the Master say “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Yes, I could see how that would be very encouraging.
But when I heard those words, I puked in my mouth a little. Because if we’re being honest (and I can trust you not to tell anyone, right?), I worry sometimes that my ministry is more “fruitful” than I am faithful. The report card cuts both ways, n’est-ce pas? If many pastors struggle faithfully with little that we would identify as success, isn’t it also true that many pastors see fruitful ministries despite their own lack of faithfulness? When I look at my ministry, generally see my failures: laziness, ineffectiveness, lack of love for God’s people, selfishness. And I’m not being super-humble (really. ask my wife, humility’s not my style). I’m serious: the church I serve is doing far better than my ministry warrants.
And so it was a sobering reminder to me. A pastor gets his report card in heaven. Don’t judge your ministry by the fruit you see in front of you. In God’s sovereign wisdom, he can use me to build his church even if I’m not faithful.
Maybe you’re there with me. If so, what should we do? Here’s how I’ve been trying to respond since April:
1. Examine your life. Make a list of specific ways you need to change and grow as a pastor. Ask other pastors for advice and help. Get some trustworthy people in your church to pray for you and hold you accountable (if possible).
2. Make necessary changes. As Paul Tripp puts it, you haven’t changed until you’ve changed.
3. Remember the gospel. The great news is that ultimately, we get Jesus’ report card in heaven. He took my selfishness and foolishness on himself. I get his perfect life of obedience. There is now no condemnation for any of us who are in Christ.
That’s always the silver lining in seeing your sin and failure more clearly… it makes grace all the sweeter! Turns out, there is plenty of grace and power and forgiveness for us to serve in.
Well, enough time blogging, back to serving the church (faithfully)…