I read a survey a number of years ago done by George Barna. In the survey they interviewed spouses of pastors - along with a segment from their children. And although the survey was lengthy with many things to ponder, one thing stood out in my mind that I will not soon forget. When it came to marital satisfaction, the spouses of the pastors gave their marriage a whopping 33 percent approval rating. However, even more amazing to me was that only 5% of these marriages were involved in counseling. Why not more? Well, according to the survey the number one barrier to seeking help (according to the pastors) was the ability or inability of others to handle the needs of the church if they were to take time off. Ouch! That has always stuck with me.
Okay...what about you? If you're a leader and your marriage is going south, would you be willing to step aside to get your family back? I believe how you answer that question will determine if you're really the leader the people in your church need. The best gift you can give to your family and to your church is a healthy marriage. Seek it first. God is more than big enough to love His people and be the CEO of your church. Think about it.
