Well, here I am a half an hour before turning in to bed. I just spent the last 1 1/2 hours playing Lego Indiana Jones with my six year old son. We had a lot of fun. Its the end of another Tuesday night and I am a bit tired. I am going to have to get up at 5am to head into work to my "other" job. The one that averages between 45 to 50 hours a week. This is my second job, and its the one that pays most of the bills. Some people, especially some in the ministry, might think I'm crazy, but despite being very busy and getting very tired I am also pretty happy with what I do and why I do it.
You see, I decided two things a long time ago. First of all, my family would not suffer financially for my being in the ministry, and second; my family would always be my first ministry. I have seen and heard of too many horror stories about ministers sacrificing their families finances upon the alter of "the ministry". In the worst of cases this can lead to deep resentment and frustration on the part of the family members. It does happen and I have seen it on several occasions.
Just because one is led to preach Christ does not mean he has to commit his family to an involuntary vow of poverty. I don't need to apologize to anyone for providing health insurance for my wife and kids, or having life insurance on myself, or contributing to my companies 401k, because I don't believe that being a Minister automatically means you have to live as a pauper and take your family down to rags with you.
There are some who choose to make huge sacrifices, which include heavy financial sacrifice, to do the work of the Lord, and I don't claim that my way is better than theirs. There are many heroes out there, such as missionaries, who give all that they are and all that they have to fulfill their calling. But I also know that there are many who get into ministry work that seem to ignore simple financial principles because they believe that's the only way. They don't save, they don't invest, they don't have any life insurance. Since when did being financially irresponsible become a good witness for God?
I often wonder how many ministers are out there who do what I do? I also wonder how many ministers from small churches are setting up their families for financial hardship or ruin because they don't want to spend their time working at another job.
I don't want to go at this pace forever. It's something that I will do as long as is necessary. If Paul could do it, then so can I. I won't have my wife and kids resent me or the church of God because they have to live at a sub standard level.
But I also admit, sometimes when things get hectic at my "other" job, I wonder what life would have been like as a monk.
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