If you could write a letter to yourself 10 years ago, what would you say? What would you tell yourself to focus on or shy away from? What would you tell yourself to pay attention to or to let go a little more often?

Whenever you're starting something new, there are always going to be tricks of the trade you haven't learned yet. There are things you will know as an experienced pastor, with years under your belt, that you didn't know when you were just beginning.

This is OK.

The maturation process means that as you go and as you move forward, you will continuously get better at your job. If you aren't, you're doing something wrong. The mistakes and learning experiences we have at the beginning of our careers are the lessons that make us into the great pastors we will be in 10 years but aren't quite yet.

But just because the learning experiences are good doesn't mean there aren't a few words of caution that could help you out today.

Here are five mistakes young pastors commonly make:

1. They lack a work-life balance. Being a pastor is an all-consuming job. It's relational in nature and, therefore, hard to leave at home. It is easy to get so wrapped up in helping your congregation that you forget there are people waiting for you at home, other people who need you.

Even you need rest and care and attention.

A common mistake young pastors make is to overwork themselves. They overestimate how much they have to give. Overwork leads to burnout and is the cause of many young pastors quitting too early.

Take time for yourself and for your family and to rest. It will lengthen and strengthen your career and your ability to make the impact you want to make.

2. They don't receive counsel from older pastors. The fact of the matter is that pastors who have been doing this longer than you have are going to know more than you do. Wise young pastors find someone well ahead of them in years and experience to mentor and teach them. You and your congregation will benefit greatly from wise counsel speaking into your life and your ministry.

3. They preach outside of their experience and understanding. A dangerous mistake young pastors often make is preaching about something they don't fully understand. As a pastor, we have to be sensitive to the fact that we're speaking into other people's lives, and we have to do so with the sensitivity, tact and empathy that often comes from experience and research.

Be careful when preaching about something you may not know enough about. Unfounded opinions and disconnected theology can be harmful to members of your church who are going through the things you're preaching about.

4. Being driven to succeed more than driven to serve God. Leading a church, just like any other kind of leadership, is a great honor. It's encouraging to see people come into your church, for your numbers to increase, or for your Twitter following to double. It's nice having people know your name and pay attention to you and care what you think. But it's crucially important that we keep our heads on straight.

We need to remember why we're doing this, who gave us the power and authority we hold, and what our purpose is. We are pastors to glorify the Name of God, not the name of us. As young pastors, and old pastors, and everyone in between, it's really easy to forget this.

5. Having passion without knowledge. Passion is important, and as a new pastor, I hope you have loads of it. But a great way to grow in your first few years as a pastor is to increase your knowledge.

Your congregation looks to you for biblical application and translation and nuance that they wouldn't understand on their own. And it's up to you to learn those things so you can turn around and impart them. Read as much as you can—study, research and listen to other kinds of teaching.

Immerse yourself in the knowledge of God so your congregation can too. It's one of the best ways you can serve them.

Being a young pastor is a great place to be. It's a season of excitement and fulfillment, of energy and of passion. Understandably, and blessedly, it's a great time of learning, a time that will set you up with a strong foundation for the rest of your ministry.

You're going to make mistakes, and that's to be expected. But being mindful of these five things can help put you on a path to success you might have missed on your own.

With more than a dozen years of local-church ministry, Justin Lathrop has spent the last several years starting businesses and ministries that partner with pastors and churches to advance the Kingdom. He is the founder of Helpstaff.me (now Vanderbloemen Search), Oaks School of Leadership and MinistryCoach.tv, all while staying involved in the local church.

For the original article, visit justinlathrop.com.

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