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The Word for Today

by Bob and Debby Gass

Increase Your Pastor’s Effectiveness (1)

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‘[Pastors] who do their work well should be… paid well.’ 1 Timothy 5:17 NLT

Your attitude and actions affect your pastor and your church. When you bless your pastor you bless your church, and when you hinder your pastor you hinder your church. Let’s look at some ways in which you can increase your pastor’s effectiveness:

Provide a good salary. Once in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament, God holds us responsible to provide generously for our pastor. The old quip, ‘Lord, You keep him humble and we’ll keep him poor!’ is no joking matter, and is contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Many pastors are hampered by inadequate incomes, causing them stress and worry over their family’s financial needs. God established the law of compensation for those who provide for our bodies and souls—from oxen to pastors. An ox’s strength and capacity to do its job effectively required that it ate as much as it needed from the grain it was threshing.

‘But was God concerned only about an ox? No, he wasn’t! He was talking about [his servants].’ (1 Corinthians 9:9–10 CEV) And Paul applies the same principle when it comes to compensating those who minister to us: ‘[Pastors] with a gift of leadership should be considered worthy of respect, and… adequate salary, particularly if they work hard at their preaching and teaching. Remember the Scriptural principle: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads the grain,” and “The labourer is worthy of his wages.”’ (1 Timothy 5:17–18 PHPS)

When possible, free your pastor from financial worry. Allow them to focus on developing the potential God sees in you, your church, and His Kingdom in your community.

SoulFood: Rev 1–4, Luke 13:1–17, Ps 77, Prov 6:29

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2024

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