Honor Leaders
Open Your Bible
1 Timothy 5:17-25, 1 Timothy 6:1-2, Deuteronomy 25:4, Galatians 6:4-10, Hebrews 13:7-17
BY Seana Scott
Burmese miners crouched along a watershed with their feet squelching in mud as they washed gravel to unearth rubies—the precious gem that sells for a high price. In 2014, an 8.62-carat pigeon’s blood Burmese ruby sold for $8.6 million. But these days, miners are extracting fewer and fewer gems. Like the gold rush on California’s coast in the 1800s (that dried up within a generation), the mines in the Union of Myanmar seem almost empty.
Sometimes it can feel like the church is like a stripped ruby mine: another pastor in moral failure, another church leader abusing power. But beyond the headlines, there are many more faithful men and women who serve diligently. They lead, teach, and live out the truth of Scripture with integrity, often without headlines.
These kinds of godly leaders should be highly valued—more than an 8.62-carat ruby. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy, his son in the faith, to give “double honor” to faithful, effective leaders, especially to those who teach (1Timothy 5:17). “Double honor” means to value and monetarily provide for something. Some scholars think this instruction might not have been limited to male elders but also might include deacons and deaconesses (leaders who faithfully serve the needs of the local body of believers).
Either way, talk of money and church leaders can cause most of us to squirm. But the truth is Scripture teaches us to take care of our leaders in every possible way, including financially. I think Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 5 serve as a helpful place to start considering financial payment for spiritual leadership. The worker deserves their pay. Do not muzzle an ox while it’s threshing (1Timothy 5:17–18, Deuteronomy 25:4). In other words, remuneration for the difficult work of leading is appropriate. Paul uses an example of an ox, but we could also imagine modern examples. “Don’t cut off a salesperson from their commissions.” “Don’t hold back a check from a contractor.” “Don’t keep a diligent spiritual leader from compensation for their effort.”
My husband dedicates more hours than a nine-to-five scouring Scripture, teaching diligently, and leading with integrity as a pastor. I buy milk and ground beef with the generosity of believers honoring their leaders. Our local congregation also shares with us in other ways, like filling my daughter’s closet with hand-me-down dresses or offering a vacation cabin for a retreat. They share all their good things with their teacher (Galatians 6:6).
Who teaches you in your faith? Who diligently exhorts and leads you by example? How can you share your resources to uphold them in their work? Maybe you drop off an anonymous gift card, earmark a percentage of your income for ministry, or offer another resource. It might look creative for each situation, but let’s take Paul’s exhortation to heart. Let’s show “double honor” to those who lead us well, for faithful spiritual leadership is worth far more than a pigeon’s blood ruby.
39 thoughts on "Honor Leaders"
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It’s hard to navigate “modern churches” these days, as someone who grew up in church and continued through many up to today! In my youth, it was our second family and we had great Godly role models as youth leaders, we learned to be a part of not only learning but to teach those youth below us, and to fellowship outside of Sundays with trips and gatherings! Yet, problems arose sporadically over the years, and hurtful division came. In my college years, it was more searching for the church that made me feel good momentarily, but with Godly wisdom covered with selfish ambitions.
Then when marriage/divorce came and raising a young toddler son, I NEEDED a church family again. And by way of friends, I found an amazing one! Guess what happened, yes growth, but also fundamental challenges. Reprimation at one point- then growth…then division again. Phew..church is hard sometimes! We changed churches to be more local after a move, and this particular church was great as far as a great preacher, and getting baptized there and attending for several years….yet we didn’t feel a fellowship with the congregation! Discouragement set in again.
Now as empty nesters in a new state, and the search for another new church- I can tell you it is somewhat exhausting and tiring in a way that makes you lose sight of even wanting to go… But God- He is calling His people to be a unit, under Godly pastors in sound doctrine, to be His bride, His light and truth. So instead of complaining and grumbling about all the things we don’t like in the church, let’s get in there and support the hard, hard role of these leaders in trying to follow the Lord’s direction in making a place where believers can cherish and help them. It’s easier to grumble than to be thankful for what we have. Yep, the SRT app is annoying, the wrong day comes up sometimes, and other glitches. Yet SRT started with these two women that wanted to share the WORD daily and has grown so fast and expanded in so many ways the last 10 years! These two ladies are leaders also of the church (God’s women!), and need a little grace to keep up with the technicalities.
Thank you for your bit of wisdom Churchmouse! We all can help give our leaders respect and encouragement.
Have a great day She’s! -
Thanks Churchmouse for sharing Alice with us – so convicting!!
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If you don’t have the book, you can go onto the website and it shows the right verses
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My husband and I are pastor’s kids. We saw firsthand the burdens pastors bear. We also know what a blessing it is for those who honor their pastor, who show extra love and encouragement to his wife and children, who tell him thank you,
Who find ways to encourage him and his family ❤️ -
My husband and I are pastor’s kids. We saw firsthand the burdens pastors bear. We also know what a blessing it is for those who honor their pastor, who show extra love and encouragement to his wife and children, who tell
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I’m glad to hear that there is an update coming for the app, because having to swipe through the green screens before my reading every day and not being able to highlight verses (or read the correct verses since I don’t have the study book) has been beyond frustrating
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I reached out to the site developers last week and they said they were working on an update that should fix it.
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Taylor, I love reading your comments :) love to see the Lord moving in your life.
Stephanie Wright, reading your comment yesterday, my heart broke for you. Though I am glad to see you have such familial church support, I pray God continues to give you and your family comfort and strength. He sees the big picture and you are all so dearly loved. I pray Galatians 6:9 to you — that you would not grow weary in doing good, despite this loss. God can satisfy and do immeasurably more than we hope or imagine. As a widow, He is your blessed inheritance. Heck, He is everyone’s lasting inheritance in this household of faith. You get to experience more of that, today. May you grieve when you need to but also rejoice in the beautiful life God has for you. <3 sending hugs, love, and peace.
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