As I considered speaking from the following passage of Scripture, I initially felt a little uncomfortable because I was exhorting and admonishing God’s people in an area in which I was personally involved.
It is similar to a single mom who has to teach a child that giving a present to his mother is an honorable thing to do. If two parents were in the home, the Dad for example, would encourage the child to get mommy a present for her birthday or the mother would encourage the child not to disobey his father.
Being the only elder at that time, I was faced with the task of teaching from the Bible how the congregation should relate to me.
Paul exhorts his readers concerning their relationship with their elders in 1 Thess. 5:12-13. He does so as a third party with apostolic authority.
(1 Th 5:12 NASB) 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,
(1 Th 5:13 NASB) and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
In order to understand this properly, we need to view it within context. Remember, Paul is exhorting Christians how to conduct themselves in view of the return of Christ and the impending day of the Lord.
Paul isn’t using his apostolic authority here (request or urge) and demanding that his readers follow his instructions. He could have done so according to Acts chapter five.
(Acts 5:1 NKJV) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
(Acts 5:2 NKJV) And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
(Acts 5:3 NKJV) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
(Acts 5:4 NKJV) "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
(Acts 5:5 NKJV) Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
(Acts 5:6 NKJV) And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
(Acts 5:7 NKJV) Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
(Acts 5:8 NKJV) And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."
(Acts 5:9 NKJV) Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
(Acts 5:10 NKJV) Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
(Acts 5:11 NKJV) So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Paul could have issued a command as an apostle but he chooses not to do so. He makes an appeal or makes a request as a friend.
Notice he refers to them as “brethren.” What was it that Paul is requesting of the brethren? He is requesting that they appreciate those who diligently labor among them, and have charge over them in the Lord and give them instruction.
Paul is describing their elders or pastors here and in describing them he gives three characteristics of pastoral leadership:
1.) Those who diligently labor among you.
2.) Those who have charge over you in the Lord.
3.) Those who give you instruction.
Paul is requesting that the brethren respect their elders. The word respect is translated “know” in the KJV from the Greek word eideo which means to “regard” or “esteem.”
We are living in the days when men, women, boys and girls have lost respect for authority. People no longer have respect for the powers of government, the police, and their parents. This “lack of respect” has as most everything else in the world these days, oozed into the church. Now you can add “pastors” to the list of powers of government, the police, and parents.
The Word of God is very clear that as Christians, we must respect and submit to God-ordained authority. We must submit to the authority of our pastors
(Heb 13:17 NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
In the Thessalonian church there was a problem. This local church was born when Paul visited the city, preached the Gospel, won many people to Christ and taught them. He accomplished all this, by the grace of God, in less than a month.
Here was the problem in the church at Thessalonica. Since the believers at this church were saved at the same time, there could be people with an attitude: So-and-so and I were saved at the same time. I knew him before he was a believer. Where did he get the idea that he could teach and lead me?
This is why Paul wrote to them asking that they respect and appreciate and regard those who diligently labor among them, and have charge over them in the Lord and give them instruction...
Our church is a church that we could say was started “from scratch.” We face a similar problem as the Thessalonian believers did. Many of us are family; we are related to one another biologically. Some of us have changed the other’s diapers. Now we are pushing the plow of the Gospel together and one person is leading the other or one person is teaching the other.
God has placed elders in the local assembly of believers to watch, oversee and shepherd.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of this dimension of leadership.
(Heb 13:17 NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Notice here, the writer gives the purpose for obey and submitting--for they watch out for your souls.
As a parent I watch out for my children. I watch out for different things during different stages in their lives.
God has given the pastor or elder the responsibility to watch out for the souls of members of the body of Christ.
The verb “keep watch” or “watch out” literally means to “keep oneself awake, be awake.”
It is the imagery of the leaders keeping awake at night in their concern for their people.
We are concerned about your concerns (families, marriages, children, finances). But we are not merely concerned with what lies on the surface. Hebrews says that pastors keep watch over your souls. This is a reference to your spiritual well-being.
We are concerned for your spiritual welfare.
We are concerned that you are growing in your faith, hope and love for the Lord and His people.
We are concerned as to whether you are living a surrendered life and walking in the Spirit.
We have an intense desire for you that you would be able to get a grip on the Word of God for yourselves and that we would no longer have to hold your hand.
But even as we let go we still need to keep watch. We need to be watched ourselves--this is why the leadership should be a plurality of elders.
Why do we keep watch? One answer would be that we are called to do it. Another would be that we love you. A third answer would be that one day we will give an account to God for our service.
(Heb 13:17 NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Let us lead you with joy.
Hebrews 13:17 continues with the admonition, “Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
The writer of Hebrews pleads that the readers will so act that keeping watch will be a thing of joy for their leaders.
In the very same way parents desire that parenting be a joy and that they wouldn’t have to worry about rebellious or obstinate children, pastors desire to shepherd their flock with joy.
Just as it is no benefit or advantage to children for their parents to have to constantly strive or quarrel with them, or chide and discipline them, it doesn’t profit you when leading you becomes a burden to us.
The writer of Hebrews says, “let us keep watch with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Back in 1 Thessalonians 5:12:
(1 Th 5:12 NKJV) And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
In this verse Paul instructs his readers to respect and regard:
1.) Those who diligently labor among you.
Spiritual leaders were to be examples to the flock of those who toil hard in the work of the Gospel. Many times this meant that they would have to sacrifice many of the pleasures of life. The leaders Paul wrote of were to become local examples of how love works hard (1:3) in contrast to the problem group within the church that was doing practically nothing (4:11).
2.) Those who have charge over you in the Lord.
The KJV uses the phrase, “are over you” in the Lord. This phrase pointed to the fact that there was an actual form of church government in the local church which included the need for the believers to “respect” the authority of the office of elder.
This aligns with what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-12
(Eph 4:11 NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
(Eph 4:12 NKJV) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
If there is no respect for the office of a leader, whether it be in the classroom, the government, the office or the home, there will be anarchy. Anarchy or lawless confusion is always wrong particularly among Christians.
Where believers are united to Christ, respectful submission to Christian leaders is service to the Lord.
Christians should respect and submit to their authority of leadership as unto Christ. (Col 3:23; Eph. 5:22)
In the early church. The leaders were charged with guiding the congregation and their decisions were binding. It must also be noted here that this authority was not vested in one person.
Paul says to respect:
1.) Those who diligently labor among you.
2.) Those who have charge over you in the Lord and thirdly,
3.) Those who give you instruction or admonish you.
Admonishing is correction administered by word or deed. It implies blame on the part of the one who is being admonished or corrected. We are living in the 90’s where everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes and there is “no wrong answer.” People make excuses for their sin by rationalizing that “the end justifies the means.”
No one likes being told that they are wrong and need to get right. But if we are to grow to be like Jesus, correction is necessary. And respect should be given to those who administer correction to members of the body of Christ.
Finally, in verse 13 Paul concludes his thoughts on this subject as he instructs his readers to “esteem their pastors very highly in love for their work’s sake.
(1 Th 5:13 NKJV) and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
The word “esteem” means to “hold in high regard” or esteem “beyond all measure.”
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary says that “No reservations are allowable. Rulers in the local assembly must be held ‘in the highest regard’ and given wholehearted support, and this is in a spirit of ‘love.’
As we come closer to the day of the Lord, Satan is beefing up his army and strategy. He wants to divide and conquer. One method he uses is to attack leadership. Though he attacks us directly many times, he also resorts to destroying the perception of our integrity with those whom we lead.
I know that the integrity of many pastors was threatened and attacked when the Jim Bakkar scandal was publicized or when Jimmy Swaggert was found to be committing sexual sins.
How do we hold our pastors in high regard? First let me share with you how many pastors are disregarded.
The poorer, the better/ “Blessed are the poor in spirit...”
During the early part of the century, when men accepted the position of pastor, they were given a parsonage, a horse and buggy or car for travel and a small salary. In many cases, the pastor and his family were the poorest in the church. People expected the pastor to be the example of one who was “poor in spirit” or “hungered and thirsted” or who “suffered for Christ’s sake.”
This was and still is wrong, not necessarily because no pastor should be allowed to suffer this way. The Scripture teaches that any person who is a member of the body of Christ should not have to suffer this way if people in the congregation have the means to provide for them.
The Scriptures say that we should “do good to all men, especially those who are of the household of faith.”
In 1 Corinthians chapter nine, the Apostle Paul defends his right as a leader of the body of Christ to be cared for by the body of Christ.
(1 Cor 9:3 NKJV) My defense to those who examine me is this:
(1 Cor 9:4 NKJV) Do we have no right to eat and drink?
(1 Cor 9:5 NKJV) Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
(1 Cor 9:6 NKJV) Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
(1 Cor 9:7 NKJV) Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
Another passage:
(1 Tim 5:17 NKJV) Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
(1 Tim 5:18 NKJV) For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
How are we to regard our leadership? As we have just seen, the first example is actually to disregard them. The other extreme is to “Feed them ‘til they want no more...”
Some church members believe to hold their pastors in high regard is to purchase them a Cadillac or feed them until they want no more.
They worship them as if they were a god and could do no wrong. This is how many people are led astray by their spiritual leaders. They act on every command without first comparing it to Scripture. On the contrary, the Scripture teaches that believers must follow their pastors only as long as their pastors are following Christ.
Leaders...even good leaders are not infallible.
(Gal 2:11 NKJV) Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
(Gal 2:12 NKJV) for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
(Gal 2:13 NKJV) And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
(Gal 2:14 NKJV) But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?
What does it mean to esteem and hold our pastors in high regard?
1. Esteem-
2. Obey and submit to them.
(Heb 13:17 NKJV) Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Most of us have no problem with parental authority, police authority or employer’s authority.
When we give our children something to do we expect them to obey.
When the police officer blows his whistle (do they still blow whistles?) we stop.
When our boss gives us a task we usually finish it on schedule.
Why is it so difficult for us to obey our spiritual leaders? Is it because each of the authorities mentioned earlier have positive and negative incentives? Positively stated, the incentives are: love from parents, protection by police and a paycheck from our employers. Negatively stated: a strap, a gun and a pink slip.
When it comes to obeying our spiritual leaders there are positive and negative incentives as well. They are blessings or cursings.
3. Make “watching over your souls” a joy for them, not grief.
If any one comes to you bearing a tale concerning your leadership, unless they have followed the steps of action outlined in Matthew 18, you need to rebuke them and encourage them to go to the person they have a problem with.
Paul says that we shouldn’t receive an accusation against an elder unless on the basis of two or three witnesses (1 Tim. 5:19).
