September 03, 2026 | Be Connected
Elders, Preachers and Teachers
Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-21(NIV)
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
Devotional
A pastor friend who was forty years older than me reflected on what a parishioner told him when he started ministry: “A pastor should be poor and humble. It’s God’s job to keep you humble. It’s the church’s job to keep you poor.”
When Jesus sent out seventy-two followers to go two by two in ministry to every town, he told them to find a house and “stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house” (Luke 10:7). The concept of pastoral leaders earning a living from their duties goes back to the roots of Christianity.
Along with this double honor, there is double trouble if a pastoral leader fails to honor God. That’s why James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Too often the headlines blast the news of yet another Christian leader who has fallen for abusing money, sex or power.
Here’s what I think. Honor your pastoral leaders without putting them on a pedestal. They shouldn’t be kept poor and humble. Neither should they live in mansions and get around in private jets. Suppressing or elevating pastors is not Biblical nor healthy.
As a pastor, I would ask for your prayers more than anything. We clergy are regular people. We have marriages and families, mortgages and finances, meetings and friendships… just like anybody else. Pray that we would be good stewards of our lives and by extension, good stewards of the churches we lead. And know that is the highest honor to serve the people of God entrusted to our care.
