“You know, if we just slide a little bit of that tithe money over here, our bathroom could be Pinterest perfect.”

Oh, I’ve been tempted with such things as I think about allocation of finances. Have you?

The Apostle Paul has been talking about the allocation of finances in the church (I Tim 5)

He has set the expectations for men to provide for their families and for the church to help when appropriate.

He then says, “Let the elders who rule well be counted of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”(5:17)

This is not Paul stating we should simply tip our hats or give extra “atta-boys” to those who preach. “Double honor” means they should receive financial care/payment.

“For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”“ (5:18)

By providing financial support to our preachers we allow them to spend time preparing and doing what God has called them to do. It is not scriptural to suggest pastors should not receive financial support as some now do.

Listen, now more than ever, we need our pastors to be deeply immersed in the study and teaching of Scripture for the saving of souls and the making of disciples who know the reason for the hope they have… and we have a role to play in this!

Now, more than ever, many churches are facing financial struggles as their congregations have shrunk due to CoVid changes and giving has decreased.

Our pastors are stressed, stretched and distracted trying to deal with our divided, angry, increasingly anti-Christian world.

We need them to be free to be still. We are blessed when they are financially able to sit at the Saviors‘ feet and draw near to Him in Word and prayer.

We desperately need godly men who live for the cause of Christ and are so filled with Him that they overflow into the lives around them.

Now, if not more than ever, we need to heed the words of the great Apostle Paul, “Let the elders who rule well be counted of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”(5:17)

Yes! “The laborer deserves his wages.” (5:18)

So, let’s be sure we who can give, keep giving!

Let’s be sure that we who can encourage, keep encouraging!

And let’s be sure that we who can pray, keep praying for our pastors and teachers!

These are hard days!

Let’s support those who God has called to lead His churches during these hard days.

readTimothy

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