Lifting the Load of Ministry Off Your Leader’s Shoulder  - Part I
by Dr. John Tetsola

There is a God-given soul-rest that results from being properly yoked up with Christ’s yoke. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. While God backs each endeavor that is birthed from His yoke, there are false burdens and unnecessary loads that pastors have attempted to bear. Trying to stand under the weight of a faulty load of ministry has caused the focus of many leaders to become diverted to an alternative, and normally the alternative is contrary to their assignment.

The Bait of a False Assignment

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Acts 6:1-2

In the above scripture, the Grecians complained against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. While this was a legitimate concern and no widow should have been neglected, it was an unnecessary load and false assignment for the apostles to have to undertake. What is a false assignment? A false assignment is any unnecessary load. It’s anything that causes the leader to divert his or her attention from the main vision and purpose of God for the local church. It’s any ungodly yoke that causes them to be led in the wrong direction. The apostles redirected the assignment and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables.” 

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report…whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied…

Acts 6:3-4, 7a

However legitimate the need, the apostles did not accept the bait of a false assignment. They upheld the need to give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. They established a biblical precedent of delegating because they realized the detrimental effects of becoming overly involved in every assignment. Therefore, they instructed the brethren to seek from their midst qualified and anointed men whom the apostles could appoint over the business. And observe the outcome: “the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied....” Delegating is not getting rid of the responsibility. It balances the load and positions the work of God for increase.

Many leaders have quit the ministry because they accepted the bait of false assignments and fell under the weight of unnecessary yokes. But God backs each endeavor that’s birthed from His yoke. He sends sons, Timothys to Pauls, and Elishas to Elijahs to assist in the work of the ministry. Their call is just as real as their leader’s call, and they will answer to God for their part just as the leader will answer to God for theirs. And when rewards are given, they will be rewarded for how they helped their leader. So steer your leader away from the bait of false assignments, and make it easy for them to remain God-ward by lifting the load of ministry off their shoulder. It’s unreasonable for them to leave the Word of God to serve tables.