22/09/2026
“PASTORS DON’T WORK?” — LET’S BE SERIOUS.
There's this believe some people have and it's quite unfortunate this generation pride themselves with ignorance but assumes it's wisdom. Do you really believe pastors are lazy because “they don’t go to work.”
Honestly, I have been searching for the right words to describe that statement, but I’m beginning to think the English language has failed me.
Before you conclude that Pastors are lazy, perhaps you should first understand what their work actually entails.
1. PASTORS ARE ADMINISTRATORS.
A church is not just a building where people gather on Sundays.
A pastor is responsible for managing people, staff, finances, departments, projects, welfare systems, programs, facilities and the day-to-day administration of a large organization.
You have not successfully managed a small business, and suddenly you want to advise or dismiss the management responsibilities involved in running a church with thousands of people?
2. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MANAGE PEOPLE?
Can you stand before hundreds or thousands of people, communicate with them, teach them, counsel them, pray for them and carry the responsibility of their spiritual and personal needs—consistently?
Can you do that week after week, sometimes several times in a day?
Public speaking is one thing.
Carrying the responsibility that comes with speaking to thousands of people is another.
In some occasions, Pastors face attacks from demons they cast out from people. Do you know the physical, psychological and spiritual battles that come with the pastoral work?
3. HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE WORK OF COUNSELLING?
Can you sit in an office from 8am to 6pm listening to people's problems?
Marriages.
Financial struggles.
Family issues.
Grief.
Addiction.
Career problems.
Spiritual battles.
Emotional crises.
The list goes on.
Then pray with them, counsel them, sometimes support them financially, pay transportation for people who cannot afford to come, feed people, assist with rent and help people get back on their feet? Attending to financial needs of others.
And after all that, someone says:
“Pastors don't work.”
Really?
4. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE DEMANDS OF MINISTRY TRAVEL?
Some pastors travel from city to city and from country to country to preach, teach, counsel, pray for people and conduct ministry programs.
Flights.
Long journeys.
Hotels.
Back-to-back meetings.
Hours of standing and speaking.
Sometimes hours of prayer.
Sometimes be up all night just to think or pray through.
You may not consider it a “job” because you don't understand the assignment.
That doesn't mean it isn't work.
I hope you know many pastors who die every year because of stress?
5. AND THEN THERE IS THE MENTAL WORK.
Studying Scripture.
Researching.
Preparing messages.
Understanding context.
Interpreting biblical texts.
Structuring teachings.
Preparing sermons.
Thinking deeply about how to communicate complex spiritual truths to different people.
You may see a pastor stand on a pulpit for one hour.
You don't see the hours of preparation behind that one hour.
When you say, “Pastors don't work,” perhaps the real issue is that you don't understand the work they do.
So before you call a pastor “lazy” because you don't see him sitting behind a desk from 9am to 5pm, perhaps expand your definition of work.
And specifically, when people attack any pastor by saying they are lazy or they doesn't work, they should first understand the scale and nature of the ministry responsibilities he carries before making such a judgment.
You don't have to agree with every pastor.
You don't have to agree with every sermon.
You don't have to agree with every decision a pastor makes.
But disagreeing with someone does not give you permission to erase the work they actually do.
Calling Pastors lazy simply because their work doesn't fit your definition of a conventional job is neither fair nor informed.
Not every job comes with a time card.
Not every worker wears a uniform.
And not every form of labour happens behind a desk.
Before you call pastors lazy, make sure you understand the work you are talking about.
© Psalms Okpe
