THE PIG OR THE CHICKEN: WHAT ARE YOU?
By Lawrence Achudume
Let me tell you a story on how I arrived at the title of this article. In 2019, I was with Pastor Umo Eno of All Nations Christian Ministry Int’l, who was then the Governor of the Royalty Group, Eket, Akwa Ibom State. By providence of God, he is now the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
In the meeting was the Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang CON, a one-time President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and President of the World Council of Churches. He is now resting in eternity with God.
In the course of our discussion, which centered on church leadership and the necessity for true leaders and workers in the church, Pastor Umo Eno told us a story about the pig and the chicken. He used the story to describe the character of some church leaders and workers.
That story quickly registered in my spirit as a good description of leaders and workers in relation to their services in the kingdom.
While the narration was on, I was like a man looking for a precious stone. My spirit leaped as I screamed within me, saying: “I got it!” But only me knew what had just happened to me. Neither Pastor Umo Eno nor Prelate Mbang knew I was working on a book for church leaders, till a week later when I called Pastor Umo Eno to explain to me again the pig and the chicken story.
Here is the story: In the animal kingdom, there was a time that they needed those that will make a sacrifice to feed and care for humanity. The chicken gladly offered to give eggs on a regular basis and the pig offered to give sausage and bacon on a regular basis.
The reality is that the chicken will give eggs but preserve her life but the pig in giving sausage and bacon will give her life, and in the process, the pig has to be killed to make sausage and bacon.
What lesson do we as leaders and workers learn here? Jesus admonished us that “except a seed of wheat dies, it abides alone.” To truly do the work of a pastor or leader, we must die to the flesh otherwise the flesh will ruin, rule and hinder our faithfulness and commitment to do the work. The people you are to serve will tend to make your flesh take advantage of you, they will Gethsemane you. That is, they will squeeze you to react and if you do not die to the flesh, you may engage them in a battle of the flesh which will not build the kingdom. We must see beyond the cunning craftiness and the evils of the flesh.
In Apostle Paul’s epistle to the church in Ephesus, he admonishes that:
Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. Ephesians 4:14 (GNB)
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ephesians 4:14 (KJV).
Members attitude can be a cause of concern to pastors such that they begin to grumble. Whatever causes grumbling does not build a church. Apostle Paul admonishes the church to stay away from such habits.
Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Philippians 2:14-16.
Aside the effect of murmuring to the church, the body of Christ, her leadership and growth, murmuring destroys murmurers also. They don’t end in honour or respect and they don’t end well. They become victims of the seed they have sown.
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10:10.
We must look to reward of sincere service to God and humanity. Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we have worked for, but will receive your reward in full. 2 John 1:8. (GNB)
THE PIG AND THE CHICKEN
A Church Worker
As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. So, he said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in.
Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. “Matthew 9:36-38. (GNB)
Today in the church, there are many miracle seekers, song lovers and a lot of musicians to entertain than to truly worship God but very few with the heart of service. Many people come to church for what they can get rather than what they can give or do to move the kingdom project. Jesus said, ‘the labourers are few’ though the crowd is there. The crowd remains crowd of people but labourers within the crowd are few.
Much as being a member of the choir, ushering, prayer and hospitality department, etc., is good, there is a difference from belonging to the group and really doing the work that enhances the group in the church.
In the eyes of men, it makes you a church worker but few are genuinely working for the progress and growth of the church which is supposed to be their main duty. You may also be surprised that some ordained pastors and ministers may not be working for the growth and progress of the church. Many supposed leaders are living in self-glory and are fame seekers.
As a pastor, I have seen some workers even leaders working from within to destroy a unit in the church. A negative attitude of a leader can do great damage. Ego-seeking leaders are dangerous. Also, I have seen church members so close to the pastors, sending and driving people away from the church. Using their closeness to the pastor as a negative advantage to drive people away from the church and anybody that has better service to offer than them becomes their enemy and focus of hatred.
