In the stirring sermon “Payday Someday,” R.G. Lee recounted his ministry to a young man who called himself “The Chief of the Kangaroo Court.”  While pastor of FBC, New Orleans, Dr. Lee regularly received letters from a person who signed with this designation.  The letters were mean, rude and foul.  One day a nurse called Dr. Lee and said that a patient identifying himself only with this title, in the Charity Hospital, was asking to see the preacher.  Upon arriving in the ward of the hospital that housed this sick, dissipated young man, Dr. Lee greeted him with grace, and stayed with him till the man died.  “Tell them the Devil pays with counterfeit money” was the young man’s request.  A life wasted by sin, ended in heartbreak. 

Lessons for unbelievers are obvious.  But there are lessons for preachers in this event.

1. We are not so gifted that we can avoid criticism.  If R.G. Lee’s preaching brought criticism, ours will, too.
2. We are not so valuable to the Kingdom that our critics are to be taken personally.  Dr. Lee exhibited neither resentment, reluctance, animosity, nor even the slightest hesitation in his desire to serve.  Our critics need ministry.
3. We are not so important as preachers that we can neglect being pastors.  This was not a wealthy church member who claimed the busy preacher’s time; it was a wretch dying without Christ. Yet, the preacher stayed with him and held his hand until he died.  The last experience this man had before he entered hell was with a loving pastor.
4. We are not so “right” that those who disagree with us earn our rejection.  There is no recrimination, no defense, and no criticism of the “Chief of the Kangaroo Court” in R.G. Lee’s account of this incident.  Some people actually are evil, but to attribute evil to people because they criticize or disagree with you is to stand on the platform of their error while trumpeting your own righteousness.  It will make a big man look small. 
5. We should not humiliate even those whose lives are wasted and wanton.  Dr. Lee’s story about this young man is full of sadness.  He does not make fun of the wretch, nor use him to justify sarcasm.  It is plain that the man’s soul was lost and for this the preacher felt great pain.

If you and I had a picture of R.G. Lee sitting in a Charity Hospital ward, holding the hand of wretched dying critic of his ministry, we would certainly think that we could see Jesus there with them.  Greatness in ministry does not come from being sure everyone knows what we have accomplished, but from sitting quietly, doing what Jesus would do. 

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