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哥林多后书2:1-4: 1我自己定了主意，再到你们那里去，必须大家没有忧愁。2倘若我叫你们忧愁，除了我叫那忧愁的人以外，谁能叫我快乐呢？3我曾把这事写给你们，恐怕我到的时候，应该叫我快乐的那些人，反倒叫我忧愁。我也深信，你们众人都以我的快乐为自己的快乐。4我先前心里难过痛苦，多多地流泪，写信给你们，不是叫你们忧愁，乃是叫你们知道我格外的疼爱你们。
一个牧师能做的最重要的事是什么？有的人或许说他必须忠实的传讲上帝的话语。一个牧师当然必须忠实的传讲上帝的话语。但我认为更重要的是他要深爱他教会的会众。我指的是所有的会众：无论是好的，坏的，丑陋的。而且是一直如此——无论是在有纷争的时刻，还是在和平的时刻。如果他不爱他的会众，他又怎能忠实的传讲上帝的话语呢？如果他不爱他的会众，他又怎能带着怜悯传讲律法，带着热情去传讲福音？一个牧师也许能准确无误地传讲上帝的话语，但如果他不爱他的会众，那么他讲的信息就会显得没有果效、没有生命力。
从保罗的话中可以明显看出，他深爱哥林多教会的会众。他投入大量的时间和精力，通过使用上帝的话语，建造这些会众。然而，出于某种原因，他们似乎背叛了保罗。也许是因为他们不喜欢保罗在哥林多前书中指出他们的错误。但是当一个牧师因为爱他的会众而指出他们的缺点时，这不也是一种爱的行为吗?保罗正是这样说的。他先前心里难过痛苦，多多地流泪，写信给他们，不是叫他们忧愁，乃是叫他们知道他有多么疼爱他们。
当我还是一名年轻牧师的时候，我曾对一位年长的牧师说，牧师联会中另一位年长牧师，在讲道方面并不十分出色。当然，所有的年轻牧师都认为一个十分出色的讲道者，才是服事中上帝给予的恩赐！那位年长的牧师温和地向我指出，这名牧师忠实尽责，服事也很成功。“你知道为什么吗？”他问我这个新手。“那是因为他爱他的会众。当你临终躺卧在床，或是深陷苦难，这个牧师才是你最希望能陪伴在你旁边的。”如果你拥有一名爱会众的牧师，你该为此感恩。
祷告：主耶稣，谢谢你赐给我们这些忠心的牧者，他们热爱我们这些会众，我们是你交托给他们的。我祷告不论他们具备什么样的恩赐我都接纳，对于那些他们不具备的恩赐我也不会在心里抱怨。我如此祈求是奉你的名。阿们。
2 Corinthians 2: 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. (NIV)
What is the most important thing a pastor can do? I suppose some would say that he must preach God’s Word faithfully. Of course, a pastor must preach God’s Word faithfully. But I think that it is even more important that he loves his people deeply. And I mean all of his people – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And all the time – in times of controversy as well as in times of peace. For how can he preach the Word of God faithfully, if he doesn’t love his people? How can he preach the law with compassion and the gospel with a passion if he doesn’t love his people? He may preach the Word accurately, but it will seem sterile and lifeless, if he doesn’t love his people.
It is obvious in these words of Paul that he loved the people in Corinth deeply. He had invested his time and energy in building this congregation up with God’s Word. Yet, it seems as if they turned against Paul, for some reason. Probably, they didn’t like it when Paul pointed out their faults in his first letter to them. But isn’t it also an act of love when a pastor points out the faults of his people because he loves them? That’s what Paul is saying. He wrote to them of our great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve them but to let them know how much he loved them.
When I was a young pastor, I commented to an older pastor about one of the other older pastors in the circuit, who wasn’t the greatest preacher in the world. Of course, all young pastors think they must be God’s gifts to the ministry! The older pastor gently pointed out that this pastor was carrying on a very faithful and successful ministry. “Do you know why?” he asked the rookie. “It’s because he loves his people. There is no one you would rather have at your bedside or in times of trouble than that pastor.” Be thankful if you have a pastor who loves his people.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for faithful shepherds who love the people that you have given to their charge. I pray that I will always accept them for the gifts that they have, and not point out in my heart the gifts that they don’t have. I ask this in your name. Amen.