“Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”

G.K. Chesterton

Yesterday, I preached a sermon titled “Prioritizing Prayer, God’s Word, and Community” based on Acts 6:1-7. This passage describes a moment when the Apostles faced the challenge of ensuring that the needs of the Hellenistic widows were met. To address this issue, they appointed seven men who were of good reputation, full of the Spirit, and filled with wisdom—qualities that made them worthy of the responsibility. In my sermon, I emphasized how this passage highlights the importance of prioritizing prayer, Scripture, and community care in the life of the local church.

I shared examples of struggles that I and other leaders have faced in trying to meet people’s needs. There were times when the amount budgeted for benevolence didn’t align with the actual needs of the congregation. As our church grew, it became increasingly difficult to care for everyone in need. In those moments, we had to rely on both faith and wisdom to navigate the challenges, especially when our financial resources were insufficient.

Afterward, I became concerned about how my message might be received, especially since I had explained in the sermon the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom approaches financial limitations with a simple “yes” or “no” based on what is available in the budget. However, godly wisdom—wisdom that comes from God sometimes requires stepping out in faith. There are moments when, even though the budget falls short, faith compels us to move forward, trusting that God will provide for the need despite financial challenges.

After the sermon, I became concerned about how people might interpret my message. I didn’t want anyone to think that we would mismanage finances or act unethically in handling church resources. Thankfully, we have regional pastors who serve as elders in our church, providing oversight and accountability. They help me lead our church plant, which is on track to officially become a chartered church within our fellowship later this year.

I have a clear conscience regarding how we have stewarded the church’s finances. However, early in the morning, a fear crept in about how others might have interpreted my words. My anxiety rose, and I felt overwhelmed by concerns about what people thought of me and what I had said. As I prayed, I began to consider the worst-case scenario. Surprisingly, the more I reflected on it, the more I felt a sense of relief.

The worst-case scenario in this situation is that people might misinterpret my words and project onto me something that isn’t true. However, if someone does misunderstand what I said, it is their responsibility to seek clarification and ask questions rather than making assumptions. 

This kind of misunderstanding is inevitable because pastors, like everyone else, are not perfect. No matter how carefully we communicate, some things will always be misinterpreted. Even the clearest communicator can be misunderstood because, as humans, we are naturally prone to misreading words, tone, and even nonverbal cues.

As I started considering the worst-case scenario, I surprisingly began to feel a sense of relief—especially when I took it to its extreme. Ultimately, the worst thing that can happen to any individual is described in Matthew 7. 

Matthew 7 is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which began in Matthew 5. In this passage, Jesus is with the crowds, and as He goes up the mountain, He sits down with His disciples, opens His mouth, and begins to teach them. Prior to Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus told them to beware of false prophets who would come to them in sheep’s clothing and how inwardly they would be ravenous wolves. 

Jesus told them that people could be recognized by their fruits. He illustrated this by explaining that grapes are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, while a diseased tree produces bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a diseased tree cannot bear good fruit. Jesus then emphasized that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Through this teaching, He made it clear that false prophets can be identified by their fruits—their actions and character reveal their true nature.

Then, Jesus continued with the teaching found in Matthew 7:21-23.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

You might be wondering, how could a passage like this bring relief? Here’s how: 

As I reflected on the worst possible situation a person could face, I realized it would be to hear Jesus say, ”I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). That is the ultimate worst-case scenario—being eternally separated from Christ. 

The relief comes from knowing that I am secure in Christ. I have assurance in Him, and the good fruit He has produced in my life is evident, something that can be affirmed by my local church. I can say with integrity that I do not live a life of practicing lawlessness. When I fall short, I repent and seek accountability by confessing my sins to my loved ones and mentors.

One example of this is my preoccupation with what others think—which, in fact, is one of the reasons for writing on this particular topic. As a young man, I struggled with various sins, but as I have grown in my walk with Christ, I have experienced the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in my life. Thankfully, the sins of yesterday are not the sins of today, and the struggles of the past are not the same as the challenges I face now.

Workers of lawlessness are those whom Jesus says He “never knew.” According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, the phrase “never knew” refers to “an indefinite negated point of time”—meaning there was never a point in time when they were in a true, saving relationship with Him. This is the ultimate worst-case scenario—to be completely unknown by Christ. And as I reflected on this, my heart became calm and encouraged because I can say with full confidence that I know Him, and He knows me. 

Even with my faults and weaknesses, I can see the fruit of saving faith in my life. Though I am not perfect, I do not live a life of practicing lawlessness. My life has been changed and transformed by the gospel I heard and by the calling of the Good Shepherd. This transformation is evident not just in my words, but in my actions. This doesn’t mean a life without struggles, but it does mean there is fruit—evidence of true faith. One key sign of this is repentance, something an unregenerate, unbelieving person cannot genuinely do.

The sermons I preach will sometimes be misunderstood—whether due to poor communication on my part or a lack of sensitivity to how others may receive them. But in the end, when everything else fades away and I stand before the Lord, my confidence rests in the finished work of Christ. It is because of His work, not mine, that I can look forward to hearing the words: ”Well done, good and faithful servant.” This truth gives me peace and rest, knowing that my right standing with God is secure—not based on people’s opinions or misunderstandings, but on Christ alone.