Don't Be a Demas

It saddens me each time I hear of another pastor who has lost his ministry.  Sometimes they leave ministry due to burnout.  Sometimes they have been hurt so deeply by the church they cannot continue.  Sometimes they love the things of the world too much.  Whatever their reason, they have abandoned their post.  Scripture offers us a great contrast between two men in ministry... Demas and Mark.

Demas is only mentioned three times in the Bible. The first mention identifies him as a "fellow laborer" with the Apostle Paul (cf. Philemon 1:24). The second occurrence only mentions his greeting to the church at Colosse (cf. Col. 4:14). His third and final mention indicates he has abandoned the ministry (cf. 2 Tim. 4:9-11). My conclusion... don't be a Demas. ;)

Paul doesn't provide the details as to why Demas has abandoned the ministry.  Perhaps a moral failure, the persecution was too great, or some other reason.  Paul simply says that Demas' desires were a worldly focus.

The same passage that indicates Demas' abandonment (i.e. 2 Timothy 4:9-11) also indicates a desire for Mark to join Paul in his work, "for he is useful to me for ministry." There is a great contrast here between Demas and Mark. Mark abandoned Paul on his first missionary journey, but found redemption and ended strong. Demas began strong with the Apostle Paul but abandoned him for the things of the world. My conclusion... be more like Mark.

Ministry is hard work and your pastors need your prayers!  Pray that God will protect them from moral failure.  Pray that God will protect them from persecution.  Pray that the church will actually be an encouragement to their ministry as opposed to a discouragement.  If you don't want a "Demas" for a pastor, pray for him.

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