I heard T.D. Jakes tell a story one time. He traveled to another church to preach a series of sermons there. The pastor of the church picked him up at the airport. As they were riding along through the city, the pastor began to tell T.D. Jakes about all the problems and criticisms he was facing. “Sister so-and-so said this.” And “Brother so-and-so said that.” On and on it went. T. D. Jakes listened in silence as the pastor told his tale of woe.
Finally Bishop Jakes spoke up and said, “You can wreck this car by swatting at gnats.” It took a minute to sink in, but the pastor finally got it – if he took his eye off the highway because he was swatting at gnats, which were nothing more than little nuisances, he would wreck the car. Likewise, in church work, you can focus on every little problem or complainer, and miss the big picture. By trying to put out every little brush fire, you can never get the church “on fire.” By focusing on nuisances, they become magnified. It’s best to ignore them.
Nehemiah said it best…. “I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, so that I cannot come down: WHY SHOULD THE WORK CEASE, while I leave it, and come down to YOU? (Nehemiah 6:3).
Follow your vision and conviciton.... not the opinion polls.