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6 Things Pastors Forget About the Rest of Us

4. We Have Tension.

Whether we’re a school teacher or a CEO, we come to work, day in day out, with an objective in mind we have to accomplish or our job is at risk.

The tension is always there and we’ve learned to live with it, maybe even forget it’s there from time to time.

But make no mistake, we are all in performance-based jobs. Fail to perform at the minimum required level and someone else is waiting to fill our spot.

And that’s what many of us do, perform at the minimum acceptable level to keep from losing our job. There is no passion!

5. We Pay Taxes.

Between state and federal income tax, as well as property taxes, the effective tax rate for middle America is somewhere between 11.5 percent and 15 percent.

The reason I mention this is, with the deductions clergy receive for mortgage interest expense, along with being able to receive a significant portion of your salary in the form of a housing expense, a pastor’s income of $85,000 looks a lot different from that same salary for one of your members.

I think that’s an important distinction to make when you compare your giving as a pastor to “their” giving as members. Particularly in the “tithing before or after taxes” debate.

6. Our Marriages Stink.

After 10 years of marriage, it is predicted that only 25 percent of couples will still be happily married (Glenn,1996).

This stat should enrage you! My wife is the primary opportunity I have to love God.

If only 25 percent of us are “happy,” what does that say about our relationship with the One who created us? If we aren’t “happy” with our marriage, there is no chance we’re growing spiritually.

You got into ministry to help people grow in their relationship with Christ, right?  

So here’s why I’m on my soapbox this morning: We’re dying a slow death, and I don’t think you’re fully aware of it. No, this list doesn’t represent everyone in your church, but these are real stats for average Americans. So they do represent the majority of people in your congregation. Wouldn’t it be wise to consider this information as you prepare this weekend’s message?

Most of us don’t give many people permission to speak into our lives, but we’ve given it to you.

You have a unique opportunity to be used by God to inspire us to have:

  • Better marriages
  • Be more generous (and pay less taxes) – “Generosity is the cure for materialism.” – me
  • Make our work about reaching people, which will skyrocket our job satisfaction
  • Treat our bodies as God’s temple

If we’re showing up to your church, we’re giving you permission to influence change in our lives.

What will you do with it?  

“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”  John C. Maxwell  

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richardchancy@churchleaders.com'
Richard Chancy began his career in the financial services industry as an investment manager for Edward Jones & Solomon Smith Barney. In the late 90’s he was invited to join John C. Maxwell at Injoy where he served as Executive Director of Client Development and lead the sales teams for the Catalyst Conference & Chick Fil A Leadercast. During this season Richard discovered his desire to ignite passion in God’s people to reach the world for Christ. As a church building coach and partner in www.24toDouble.org, he’s combining his experience working in a first class leadership organization with what he learned in the world’s largest brokerage firms to be part of what God is doing through His Church. Richard spends his days working with, for, and on the local church helping them create & leverage disruptive environments.