Matt 7:16 You will know them by their fruits, Grapes are not gathered from thorn bush nor figs from thistles, are they? (NASB)

One of the most important things we must do as leaders and ministers is appropriate our time. The bottom line is that people, task and programs want more time from you then you have to give them.

For instance, I have had to make a generic policy about how my time is spent in ministry. I don’t do anything other than music and creative arts. The meetings I have with people must pertain to those ministries. If I do any counseling, it must be with people inside the department. (This does not include family time… office hours only.)

I’m adding something new to this list. I will no longer deal with thorn bushes. Now I’m not talking about thorns. Thorns are people who have a personality that may not agree with you, but at the core they’re alright.

However, thorn bushes are those people who always have something wrong, can find fault in just about everything, never like the way something being done, would always do it differently and they also like to complain at inconvenient times. They are mass producers of thorns.

In addition to producing thorns, they don’t produce anything good. They make no sizable contribution to your ministry, but have a dump truck load of opinions concerning it.

I would highly suggest you not bother with thorn bushes. They will consume more time than it’s worth… and in a short time, they’ll be doing the same thing with you or someone else.

Find grape vines, and tend those… that’s where the fruit is!

Blessings!