Pastor Michael Kyazze (Courtesy Photo.)
Pastor Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre in Zana, off Entebbe Road on Wednesday used two well-known women in the Bible, Martha and Mary, to demonstrate why Pastors in Uganda should not be “distracted with much serving.”
He was speaking at the 24th Annual Ministers’ Conference hosted by Bishop David Livingstone Kiganda and wife Cindy Kiganda at Christianity Focus Centre Mengo-Kisenyi in Kampala.
The Story of Mary and Martha comes from Chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke. The two sisters, opened their home to Jesus as he travels with his disciples.
As Martha hurried to ensure the preparations, Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus and listens to the wisdom of Christ, while she had the opportunity.
Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Jesus replies, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Pastor Kyazze taught that many ministers of God’s Word today are burdened with the spirit of Martha.
“Am I saying that serving is bad? No! Over serving is going to become a problem to us the Church,” the pastor married 32 years started his sermon.
“When I look at the Church in Uganda, including myself, I see that we have over engaged in ministry and we are losing out some very important things that we need to do. We are tired, we are exhausted. We are missing the point,” he added.
Pastor Kyazze urged fellow pastors to carefully consider doing things which need to be do, other than just doing everything.
“We need to find time and rest otherwise, the whole of the leadership in Uganda are becoming Marthas. You need quality time to rest and rejuvenate. The time for recess is long over due,” he said.
“I know what it means to run something and yet the Holy Spirit is telling you to stop. Not all songs we are hearing are songs God wants to release now. Not all the sermons we are hearing should be preached now. Some people need to break the Martha spirit, and rest,” he continued. “Busy itineraries are a sign of over distraction. You need to concentrate on listening to the word and voice of God.”
Pastor Kyazze explained that Mary wasn’t being lazy or idle when she chose to listen to Jesus; She was embracing worship instead.
He urged that preachers need to set aside time for worship.
“Mary was in the house, she went and sat at the feet of Jesus and listened. She enjoyed the presence of God. We have so many busy pastors, who have not heard from God. Serving can continue, but the depth will reduce. We are losing depth as we do so many things. Every man of God needs quality rest.”
