Those with low self-discipline will procrastinate on activities they don’t enjoy, only do the minimum to get by and avoid exercising daily initiative. Over time, this leads to low morale and spiritual lethargy, first in oneself and eventually in the congregation.

One of the blessings of vocational ministry is the high degree of control clergy have over their schedules. If you are a minister, before you groan and push back, consider how much control you have.

Because it is a calling and because clergy are on call most always and work odd hours, they enjoy great flexibility in how they structure their schedules.

For example, I heard a minister say recently that it’s possible to take a couple days off to go visit friends elsewhere when one is in this line of work.

If you work in another profession where you are required to be in an office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 50 weeks per year, then you can appreciate the flexibility of clergy.

This is one of the nice benefits of serving as a pastor or church staff member, but it is also a contributing factor to the need for high levels of self-discipline.

Clergy, like myself, are the ones looking over their own shoulders much of the time. We are our own quality assurance supervisors, at least in the short run.

One can coast for a while in ministry without immediate repercussions. But when one coasts, this lack of self-discipline will become self-evident over time.

Those with low self-discipline will procrastinate on activities they don’t enjoy, only do the minimum to get by and avoid exercising daily initiative.

Over time, this leads to low morale and spiritual lethargy, first in oneself and eventually in the congregation.

By contrast, those with high levels of self-discipline will find ways to complete the undesirable tasks, initiate activities that will develop the church and consistently invest in their callings.

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