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Sep 18, 2026 06:00am

Dirty Jobs

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Mike Rowe used to do a show called “Dirty Jobs.” Remember it?

He would seek out blue-collar workers who had tough, dirty, sometimes unusual or gross jobs, but they were needed for our everyday living. He traveled around with garbage collectors, pig farmers, plumbers, and roadkill collectors, just to name a few.

Not only was this dirty work, but it was often thankless work.

But in all the years of watching the show, I don’t recall ever seeing one of the toughest, often thankless jobs:

The job of a pastor.

It’s not a role that anyone seeks out on their own. It’s a job that comes with a calling. In fact, if you polled pastors, see how many actually said, “I’ll never be a pastor,” at least once in their life.

Once the Lord places that call on their life, there’s no place they can run, hide, or escape. He continues to draw them back to the purpose He has for them.

And what a job they have.

They’re a shepherd, leading, protecting, feeding, and corralling a flock. They study, prepare, teach, and pour their hearts out every week to a group of people who are a mixed bunch.

Can you imagine leading a group where maybe 10% will listen and follow what you’ve shared with them? Some will argue with you. Others will completely ignore you or even sleep as you give them instructions. And most of them will only remember a few pieces here and there of what you taught them.

Pastors aren’t just teachers, but counselors and decision-makers. However, sometimes it looks more like the teacher on recess duty trying to control a bunch of kids.

And often, that’s all just in one day.

**1 Thessalonians 5:12–13**

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.”

Do you know a pastor?

Tell them thank you.

Show your appreciation to them for faithfully surrendering to the job God called them to do.

Write a letter or a thank-you note. Pray for them. Invite them to lunch. Give a financial gift. Offer to send them to a conference or retreat they’ve been wanting to attend. Make a point to encourage them weekly.

The list goes on and on.

When they became a pastor, it didn’t make them superhuman. They are still just ordinary men. They face the same struggles you do. And they need your encouragement and support.

And if we expect them to be the man God called them to be, we should be the church member God called us to be.

But if you sit down with your pastor today, he probably wouldn’t tell you about all that.

He’d probably share with you something the Lord has laid on his heart to preach, or his excitement about the little girl who got saved at Vacation Bible School, or the young couple he’s counseling before their upcoming wedding.

He’d probably tell you about the older gentleman who finally made the decision to be baptized or the group that’s decided to start a new ministry or discipleship group.

Today, how can we show our respect and appreciation to our pastors?

It’s a dirty and thankless job sometimes.

Let’s make sure it’s not always a thankless one.