Basic HTML Version
a
PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
VOL.7, N0.32
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
FROM MINISTERIAL SERVICES
AUGUST 9, 1985
Mr. Herbert Armstrong has directed me to send out an audiotape of a recent
outstanding sermon by Dr. Clint Zimmerman to be played in all churches. On
the subject of marriage, the sermon is unusually powerful and insightful
into the God-ordained roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives.
Dr. Zimmerman clearly explains what God expects of us in marriage and why.
This was certainly one of the finest and most effective sermons on marriage
I have ever heard.
I hope you ministers have clearly in mind the supreme importance of apply
ing God's marriage laws in your own lives. I know that some have felt that
the Church should always come first after God--that if we must sacrifice
our families to do God's Work, then somehow God will make up the difference
for us. After all, wouldn't that be putting God first?
The fact is, we are putting God first when we obey Him. God shows us
through the Apostle Paul in I Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 that faithfulness
as a husband and father are foundational to one's responsibilities as an
elder. God does not want us to neglect our leadership at home in order to
devote ourselves to His service. He expects us to fulfill our responsibil
ities to our wives and children as gart and parcel of our duties as elders.
Even our example in this regard is important to the brethren.
Broken laws bring penalties. God will not suspend the penalties of ongoing
neglect of His clear instructions in His Word. If we fail to spend the time
with our children that we should, it will affect them. We are not immune
from the penalties of breaking God's laws. We won't be able to tell God,
0
1
know I didn't do what you said, but it was so I could be a better minister."
God knows what makes a better minister. We need to be doing it His way, not
our own way. If you also think you can neglect spending time and communi
cating with your wife and still have a good marriage and an effective minis
try, you are wrong! If you want to be a good minister, you must be a good
husband first!
Those of you who attended the second Ministerial Refreshing Program will
remember Mr. Neff's class titled,
0
The Minister's Personal Marriage." He
went through the priorities a minister should have, listing them in the
following order: 1) God, 2) family and 3) Church. The ordei: was not: 1)
God, 2) Church and 3) family. Why? Because God shows that fulfilling one's
responsibilities toward his family enables him to properly fulfill his
responsibilities toward the Church!
Does this mean that if you have neglected your family in doing the work of
the ministry, all that work was futile or of no value? Of course not! God
still does His Work through human beings, however imperfeet we are, o:r
unwise we may be at times. But it does mean that there will be penalties
and problems to contend with.
��
C 1916 WorklwideChurchofGod