Paul left Timothy in a difficult situation. He had left Timothy in charge of the work in Ephesus. It was there where young Timothy faced numerous and multitudinous challenges to his ministry. Paul sought to offer encouragement to his younger colleague. Paul tries to provide encouragement to his young son in the gospel ministry.
Problems create challenges. Timothy faced a number of problems. This growing list of problems was a challenge to his ministry. First, he faced doctrinal problems. Well meaning but uninformed teachers of the gospel brought in errors of interpretation and practice.


Second, the church in Ephesus faced relational problems. What role were women to have in the church? The new role of women in the church created stress. The role of women in public worship raised questions. On the relational front, members struggled with how leaders should relate to the different age groups in the church.
Third, Timothy faced pastoral problems. Timothy found himself unprepared for the daily grind of being a pastor. How could Timothy maintain the delicate balance between practical and spiritual leadership? How was this young pastor supposed to relate to daily pressures he encountered? How does one remain faithful to God, family and friends while engaged in the rigors of being a pastor in a problem-filled church?


Fourth, Timothy’s church faced financial problems. What should be the pastor’s attitude toward money? Some preachers preached only for the fame and fortune. Timothy like many other preachers was faithful but broke. How does one maintain a balance? How does one respond when money is used as a lethal weapon to keep the pastor in check?


Timothy’s list of problems carries with it a contemporary sound. We are still struggling with what is proper behavior in the house of God. Members are guilty of a double standard. We want the pastor to offer a second chance and forgiveness when certain members are guilty of sin; yet, we beg the pastor to preach hell and damnation when other members are guilty of the same sin. Few small to medium size churches do not have financial problems.


It is against this backdrop, God asks us to do faithful ministry. It is of little wonder why men and women opt to engage in law, medicine or finance rather than respond to the call to the gospel ministry. According to the most recent research, here is a short list of the things one can anticipate will happen to those of us in the ministry:

• Some will be unable to endure the stress of ministry and will experience a physical and/or emotional breakdown.
• Approximately a quarter of all clergy will experience divorce.
• Within the first ten years of parish ministry, roughly half the clergy are either fired by the congregation or forced to leave. Another 15% will be forced to leave their parishes during their last ten years in ministry. Is there one denomination with a program of financial support for clergy who are fired?
• Some will lose their sense of call and start to place money, status and popularity against the goals of the kingdom.
• Some will experience personal tragedy and be unable to function for months.
• Some will fail to practice good self-care techniques and their weight will balloon rendering them ineffective healers.
• Some will be caught in sexual misdeeds.
• Some are simply going to die broke trying to be effective clergy.