Should a man be picked as a preacher who is pouting because he wasn’t picked?
Question:
The preacher of a congregation developed some health problems and one of the men who served as song leader stood in during the preacher's absence. He thought he would be chosen after the death of the long-time minister, but he wasn't. He then has refused to do a talk, but still leads the singing. He is a wonderful song leader, but he was so disappointed that he was not chosen to be the preacher. Should the congregation give in to please him in this?
Answer:
A person preaches because he desires to preach, not because some congregation "picks him." A congregation decides which preachers they wish to support. If the local congregation decides they want someone else, then a man desiring to preach either continues without support or looks into other works in other areas. Pouting is never the way to land a position, in the secular world or in the church. The fact that he lets others stand in the way of preaching shows he lacks the drive for preaching. "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" (I Corinthians 9:16).
