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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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I Am to Be Trustworthy

“The same one who wrote those words added, ‘It is required that we be found trustworthy.’ That’s the ticket. That’s the key. Trustworthy under rowers, trustworthy maids and butlers, trustworthy people who study the recipes, fix the meals to serve up the secrets of God. You don’t sit in an elegant dining room to be served. You have the responsibility of poring over this work to which you’re called. And you have at all times that throbbing reminder, I am to be trustworthy.”

Guard Against Self-Pity

“So a strong warning is in order. And the warning is that you guard against an insidious temptation that will on occasion become more real than life to you. You will think, I’ve been at this a long time. I’ve been faithfully rowing. I’ve been preparing these good meals for years. I mean, it’s about time that maybe I get a little credit. I could sure do well with a little more money. I’d like some, well, I’d like a little fame to go along with all this hard work. Those insidious self-serving thoughts will come in and they all have the same label. It’s called self-pity. It’s a reprehensible thing.”

Guard Your Imagination, Restrain All Rationalization, Wipe Out Deception

“Number one: Guard your imagination. You’re very bright people. That’s part of your problem. Bright people have great imaginations. You dream big. Unfortunately, you often wind up on the throne of that imagination. Guard it. Second: Restrain all rationalization. Call it what it is. Call it what it is. Selfishness, sinfulness, a spirit of entitlement. Leave no room for rationalization. Third: Begin today before God to wipe out deception from your life. When you are confronted and you have been wrong, say those words, ‘I am wrong.’ Don’t act like everything is right when it’s wrong. And all through your ministry, keep asking the question that I placed on my desk for my four years at the seminary and I still have on my desk in front of me every day I am at that study at our church. What’s your motive?”

Trust the One Steering the Ship

“Now, it’s easy in the midst of all of this to sort of wish you were on another level to row, and maybe the first level to row, and who knows, you may be there someday, but you began right at the bottom, bottom level under rower on this good ship. Never once are we told that we will be the skipper of the ship. It isn’t our prerogative to command the vessel. We don’t steer it. We row. We cook.”

Be Found as Trustworthy

“Now, as you faithfully row and as you faithfully cook, there will be times on this ship that you will face rough weather, high waves, criticism, doldrums, ingratitude, sacrifice. All of those things are to force you back to the reminder that it is required that we be trustworthy.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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