Stability
Decisions should be made very slowly, thoughtfully, and while seeking counsel.
Look at the biblical use of the word unstable.
Genesis 49:4 “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.”
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
2 Peter 2:14 “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”
2 Peter 3:16 "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
You cannot bounce around and expect to be used of God.
Countless opportunities arise for preachers to move, change, or find an easier course, but they stay because stability is spiritual. Notice what James writes above, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." ALL HIS WAYS. That is serious! In every area of life, you will find your world unstable.
To bring about some measure of stability and security, one must watch their crowd; the wrong people will hamper your stability and security.
Proverbs 24:21 “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:”
Compare the references that speak of being of a double mind.
James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
The double-minded need to be purified in heart and cleansed in hands.
The Bonsai tree supposedly starts out as a normal tree, but removing it from the soil over and over and trimming the roots causes it to be stunted - it looks like a real tree, but is severely stunted.
There is no end of Bonsai Christians who move, change, and quit; and often they do so at the drop of the hat. If an injustice or difficulty causes you to walk away, you "shall not excel." If a brighter opportunity arises and you trot off after it, you will create the habit of instability and guaranteed mediocrity.
Every marriage is tested; every person in the ministry is tested, and even in secular work, those with potential for excellence and great success are going to deal with the chance to walk away and try another job, another position, or another team. Successful people are rooted and grounded.
If you have made any major change in the last six months, the next big change better be years away. If you can count several quick choices of change, or moved jobs in the last couple years, your habits are starting to form in stone. You will need to fight to lock in stability and then hopefully offer your spouse and family security.
Those who move churches regularly are never going to prosper spiritually. Those who run when opposition arises will find themselves always running. Those who always watch for that dream job will discover that dreams only happen when one is asleep, and dreams are very far from reality.
Pastor