Time Management as a Pastor

Author: Pastor Dale

2 Timothy 4:1–2

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)

The secret life of a pastor is certainly an enigma. What does he do? Does he only work on Sundays? Does he spend all day praying and writing sermons? Does he spend all day visiting the sick and suffering sheep? How does a pastor manage his time? Time management for pastors is obviously not spelled out for us in Scripture; but based on certain pastoral priorities, principles for time management can be developed. The three that I will focus on are: protecting your priorities, ordering your life, and resting from your labor. 

A pastor’s workspace with essential tools for planning and reflection

Protecting Your Priorities

What are a pastor’s priorities? In Acts 6, additional servants were chosen to assist the Hellenistic widows so that the apostles could give themselves to the ministry of the word and of prayer (Acts 6:2-4). Pastors are not apostles, but the principle stands. Pastors must never outgrow the basics. Pastors must spend time in prayer and study. We are the spiritual leaders of the church, resident theologians, shepherds who intercede for the sheep. We cannot do what God has called us to do unless we become what He has called us to be. We must be pastors who give themselves to prayer and Scripture. There is no specific block of time per day, week, or month for this spiritual discipline, but it must be protected at all costs. There will always be something vying for your time and attention, but there is no substitute for prayer and the Word. We will be ready to preach, in season and out of season, when we give ourselves to these most basic and essential priorities.

Rightly Ordered Lives

Secondly, pastors must develop rightly ordered lives. This requires great discipline and strategy. Without a plan, structure, and routine, pastors will always feel behind and struggling to keep up. Of course, all plans should be held subject to “if the Lord wills,” as James teaches (James 4:15). Humility and flexibility are godly traits. However, apathy and laziness have no place in the pastoral office. The Proverbs have a name for that man: sluggard. Sluggards don’t make good pastors - but ants do (Proverbs 6:6-8). Like the ants, a disciplined pastor will always be looking ahead at what needs to be done. He is not just concerned about today’s urgencies, but always leaning in to the future health and security of the church. We must show ourselves as workmen approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15). Look at this week’s agenda, then look at the month, then the year, and then the next five years. The disciplined pastor will fill these days with precious kingdom work, maintaining optimism and zeal, considering it a privilege to serve as an undershepherd in Christ’s church.

Resting from Your Labor

Finally, Pastors also need to learn how to take a beat. The demands of the ministry are exhausting to the body, mind, and soul. The ministry can become all-consuming, almost an idol of its own kind. Pastors must step away regularly to reflect and reframe their lives under the sovereignty of God, prioritizing the needs of their family and their personal well-being. I believe every pastor should maintain healthy diet and exercise. Every pastor should take a Sabbatical after a minimum of 5 years. Every pastor should tuck his children in bed at night more times throughout the week than is spent on ministerial duties. Pastors are not angelic super-Christians. Pastors need rest, and healthy pastors will factor in appropriate rest as they consider time management. Even Jesus needed to “come away and rest” sometimes (Mark 6:31).

Not-So-Secret

The day in and day out of pastoral ministry is not as enigmatic as we might imagine. There is no secret formula for the pastor’s work week. There is only faithfulness to the calling. Every pastor is different, and the needs of every congregation are different. However, Biblical priorities are universal and timeless. God’s Word produces healthy pastors and godly schedules.