But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. [1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NASB]
God wants us to appreciate our spiritual leaders. We are to hold them in high regard, not because they have a title such as "Reverend" or "Pastor", but because of what they do.
Paul says that we should appreciate those who diligently labor among us. Many think of the pastor as working a couple hours a week on Sunday morning, and spending the rest of the week playing golf or sitting is cozy office with his feet on the desk.
There may be some lazy people who wear the title of the clergy, and who do as little work as possible, but I have never met one. The true shepherd of the flock is a hard worker. It is not a light thing to study and know the word of God, and to teach and direct his people each week. And that is only the public aspect of his labors. He comforts those who are bereaved, counsels those who are lost, he racks up the miles on his car visiting those who are shut in. He oversees the various ministries and outreaches in the church, leading the leaders. On top of that, many pastors work a second job to support themselves so that they can do the work of the ministry.
Your church leaders have charge over you in the Lord. Please understand that this doesn't give them the right to dominate you. A leader in Christ doesn't issue commands like a drill sergeant leading his troops. Rather, he gently leads them like a shepherd guiding his flock.
Jesus refers to himself as "the good shepherd". Leaders in Christ are to follow Jesus in example. Jesus says;
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. [John 10:11-13 NASB]
A good leader gives instruction. Again, these are not orders in the line of "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not". A leader teaches people how to live a holy life. He uses his words to teach, patiently explaining the ways of the Spirit vs. the ways of the flesh. And he uses his own life, a living example of how to live the holy life, walking in the Spirit, and putting to death the deeds of the flesh.
Our leaders are to be esteemed. Not out of obligation nor out of fear, but out of love because of the work they do.
I have known a few pastors in my life. The hardest part of their job, and the reason many give up and leave the ministry is because of disrespectful parishioners. It seems some people think it is their calling to keep the pastor humble. They oppose him whenever they can, and if they are on a church board, they threaten his livelihood if he doesn't agree or give in to them, and preach "their" gospel. And don't dare preach the truth if it opposes what the board already "knows".
If a minister is abusing his position for ungodly purposes, then, of course, the situation must be dealt with and corrected. But what often happens is a godly pastor is opposed by reason of politics and power. Pharisees in the church are more concerned with their tradition than they are the truth of the Bible. Be sure that if you are one who stands in the way of God's ministers on earth, then you will one day have to stand before Jesus and give an accounting.
Don't be like that. Respect your leaders for the work that they do.
Father, I thank You that you have established order in Your church. Thank You that You have given us leaders and teachers. I pray for the pastors and leaders of my church that You will direct them, and guard over them. I pray that I may be a blessing to them.
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