A minister's day is never ended. Preaching a sermon each Sabbath and conducting a midweek prayer service, both requiring hours of preparation, are but a small part of a preacher's life.
Fund-raising campaigns come one after the other; attending committee meetings, settling church members' personal problems, visiting the sick, conducting funerals and weddings, and being subject to call day and night—these are some of the tasks that occupy the minister's waking hours. Too many chores can make his life a harrowing experience. An overworked minister cannot operate efficiently.
Budget Time
In order to carry out a successful program a minister must budget his time as carefully as he budgets his money; time is one of his most valuable possessions. To be an effective preacher he must eliminate hurry, worry, and fatigue.
"But," you say, "it is easy enough for you to tell me, when you don't have my problems."
Granted. That's all the more reason why you must budget every hour of the day. Plan as many visits as before, but make them short. Be sure to keep within your time schedule. Also allow a certain amount of time for emergencies that are bound to arise.
A good minister, like a good executive, is one who can allocate responsibilities to others. "In every church," says Ellen G. White, "there is talent, which, with the right kind of labor, might be developed to become a great help in this work."—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 117.
It is not the Lord's purpose that ministers should be left to do the greatest part of the work of sowing the seeds of truth. Men who are not called to the ministry are to labor for their Master according to their several ability.—Ibid., p. 128.
You may think that no one but you can do a certain task. Remember that some layman may do about as well. At least it will give him a feeling of accomplishment, and it will save you time. "We should be careful not to take upon ourselves burdens that others can and should bear."—Ibid., vol. 3, p. 13. Besides, laymen grow under responsibility. The apostolic church grew through the efforts of laymen.
Every member of the church should be instructed in a regular system of labor. All are required to do something for the Lord. . . . The minister who shall educate, discipline, and lead an army of efficient workers will have glorious conquests here, and a rich reward awaits him when, around the great white throne, he shall meet those saved through his influence.—Ibid., vol. 5, p. 308.
Stretch Those Muscles
No matter how busy you may be, include time in your budget for exercise. Ellen G. White said, "Ministers should not neglect physical exercise."—Ibid., vol. 3, p. 211. "To neglect the body is to neglect the mind."---Ibid., p. 486.
Statistics prove that twice as many sedentary people as active ones have heart attacks and the greater percentage of ulcer and diabetes sufferers are inactive people.
Ministers above all need to relieve tension by exercise. A minister may get a calling down in a heated board meeting. He may feel like barking back, but he can't. In fact, he can't even disclose that he'd like to. As a result, he can't release tension. Some tension backs into a headache or a backache or an upset stomach.
To operate at maximum efficiency you must exercise to dispel tension before it has a chance to build up and cause damage.
Those who are engaged in study should have relaxation. The mind must not be constantly confined to close thought, for the delicate mental machinery becomes worn. The body as well as the mind must have exercise.—Ibid., vol. 4, p. 652.
If you require an extra hour for your busy schedule, get up earlier each morning. After a while you will find yourself no more tired by arising at six than you were when you slept until seven. Get to bed earlier.
"But," you say, "I simply can't fall asleep before eleven." If you are genuinely tired, you will be able to sleep at an earlier hour. Rising and retiring times are largely a matter of habit. If you want to adhere to your budget, you must change bad habits. Of course, it will be difficult at first, but if you persist it can be accomplished.
You will begin to appreciate more fully than ever before those free moments you have allowed in your budget for recreation. And when you work strenuously for six days you will look forward with anticipation to the Sabbath. "The Sabbath was made for man, to be a blessing to him by calling his mind from secular labor to contemplate the goodness and glory of God." —Mid., vol. 2, p. 583.
After you have learned to budget your time, no longer will you become annoyed when delayed or when someone is late for an appointment. Instead, you may be so preoccupied with a stimulating idea that you may even welcome the delay.
As Adventists, we believe that time is short. Should we not, therefore, above all people try to use each moment wisely?
