Time out of the pulpit has given me good opportunity to reflect on myself and others in the pulpit. In my hiatus from the weekly demands of preaching, I have been able to gain some fresh perspective on preaching, having had much more time to listen than speak. I have been both blessed and troubled. If you will bear with me, I want to address here something that is troubling me now. In looking back at myself in hindsight and up at others in my front-sight, I have seen something detrimental to our enduring effectiveness—to our faithful fruitfulness—as ministers of the Word.

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)