Bible Reading: Leviticus 20; Psalm 25; Ecclesiastes 3; 1 Timothy 5
1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
An elder is a pastor is a bishop. These terms are interchangeable in the New Testament. The Bible here tells us what our pastors ought to be doing and how we should treat them. First, elders ought to rule well. The word translated 'rule' is a military term that means to stand before in rank. For this reason, one of the duties of an elder is to be an overseer of the church. In Acts 20:17 Paul called the elders of the Ephesian church and spoke to them before he headed for Jerusalem.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Here he says the Holy Ghost has made them overseers and that they are to feed the church of God. In order to do this, an elder must labor in the word and doctrine. Peter says much the same thing in one of his epistles:
1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.
Pastors ought to work had at the word and doctrine. They should:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The apostle tells us that elders who study hard and feed the church the good Word of God are to be counted worthy of double honor. The word translated 'honor' here means value or a price paid. We use the word today when we give someone an 'honorarium'. Then Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 25:4 saying you shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. He also quotes the Lord Jesus saying a labourer is worthy of his hire.
How should pastors take care of the church? They should work hard at preaching and teaching so that God's church is fed. How should you treat your pastor? You should pay him well for doing what God has called him to do. If you have a godly pastor who preaches the Word, he is a gift from God. Be grateful and take good care of him. He is an important part of your and your family's spiritual growth.
In Christ,
Rody
