Double honor
1 Timothy 5:17-25; BCBC/IOUC; 2/13/2022; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
Usually pastors don’t preach this kind of sermon very much. Why? Seems like he’s talking for himself, doesn’t he? However, the less you talk about it, the fewer people will know about it, and the more people will disrespect the Lord. May God guard our hearts, interpret the Bible according to God’s will, and speak the words of God. Let’s look at the first point:
Treating God’s servants kindly is the glory of the church
People of this world do not treat the servants of God kindly, and we may not say anything. Because this is Satan’s destiny, waiting for God’s judgment. However, if the people in the church don’t treat God’s servants kindly, that really hurts God’s heart. First, double honor. What does double honor mean? Honor includes value for honorarium, extra respect, and spiritual authority. In Paul’s time, the living conditions of the apostles were generally not stable. Perhaps Peter, James and other church members in Jerusalem had relatively stable economic supplies. The apostles could even bring their wives when they went out for short-term preaching, which was envied by many. Paul’s status as an apostle is still uncertain, so he sometimes made a living by weaving tents. Respect and authority, it seems that Paul received relatively more. This in turn has to do with his three mission trips and his dedication to the church. In particular, there are as many as 13 of his New Testament letters. He was often beaten and tortured, and finally followed the Lord and died on the cross.
Second, the ministries of elders. Pastors are elders of course, and elders are specially chosen by God. Pastors serve God’s word, teach, shepherd, and govern as their main ministries, while elders serve as their main duties to supervise the church, maintain order, care and exhort (Titus 1:5-9). We only see in the Bible that God set up elders in various cities through Paul, but we do not see that elders have tenure. Some people who do not understand the Bible distort the Bible at will, disobey the commandments of the Bible, and appoint elders at will. The establishment of elders needs to be done carefully, but once established, they cannot be changed at will. Of course, unless the established elders are apostate, morally corrupt, etc., the church certainly has the authority to remove the elders. Paul said, “Do not accept submissions against the elders unless they have two or three witnesses.”
Finally, the labor of preaching. It is God’s wisdom and grace that God designed the pastors and ministers of the church to receive the support of the church members. I have been shepherding the church full-time for almost 30 years, and I have gradually come to understand God’s will. He wants pastors and ministers to be heart-to-heart with the church, because where people’s money is, there is their heart! The support of pastors and ministers is provided by the church. What I particularly say is that the support by the church alone is the wisdom bestowed by God. Paul said: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” The church cannot have good shepherds and is unwilling to offer money. Some brothers and sisters who are new to the church do not understand the situation and think that the church’s money comes naturally. The more important reason is that when their heart is not there, of course the money won’t come. Let’s look at the second point:
Caring for God’s servants is the grace of believers
Each individual brother and sister in the church is like a child before the servants of God; however, the church as a whole is like a parent before the servants of God. A church that can handle this group of relationships is a blessed church! First, offer money wholeheartedly. In theory, if ten people in a church keep tithing faithfully, they should be able to supply the needs of one minister, right? Only ten people, but it is not easy to find in this world! Satan is very happy, and he can even boast before the Lord: Look at the Jobs in this world, how many of them are faithful to You? It’s okay to move our mouths and hands, but once we touch our purse, our hearts can’t hold back. I am also deeply aware of this. I grew up with a background where I was unfamiliar or even disgusted with giving money. When I first believed, I even had some resistance to the church’s practice of collecting tithes. I made a lot of money. Every Sunday worship, I dropped a hundred crowns perfunctorily. Until one day, did I realize that our financial offerings are only dedicated to the worship of the Lord!
Second, care about daily needs. Tithing is not the same as directly supporting the minister. This is very important. It is God who personally supplies the needs of His servants through His church! Some leaders of the Chinese church do not know enough about this, or even misunderstand it. Thinking that he can be the boss of the church by offering money, he can act arbitrarily. Some people are very smart and use their business acumen to run the church. They bought a business center as a church, and the rent of the shop can support the church and the pastor. But they despise believers’ tithing and even despise God’s servants. Over the years, they have driven out God’s servants at will, bullied the weak in the church at will, disobeyed the rules themselves, and even ganged up to deal with the pastor’s discipline against them. How will they be accountable to God in the future? In fact, there is no need to be so depraved! Caring for the servants of God is the attention of daily life. I am often concerned by brothers and sisters, concerned about my recent family needs, and if there is any special expenditure, they will make up for it immediately. In fact, it’s all about the heart, right?
Lastly, always pray and accompany. Pastors are also human beings. If you have weaknesses, they have weaknesses too. Do you know? Pastors and ministers are the loneliest people in the world! It’s hard to find someone to share the pain, why? They are afraid you will fall too! I used to think that I could share my feelings with a mature-looking brother in the church. He looked mature, but it turned out that he wasn’t mature either. what to do? Since then, I took care of it myself! In fact, I also long for someone to understand, to accompany, to pray for, to bear, and to trust. Of course, almost thirty years have passed, and I have become accustomed to pouring out everything to the Lord! Solitude in Gethsemane is my destiny and my longing: will no one watch and pray with me? Even if only for a moment? Let’s look at the third point:
It is the wisdom of Christ to make good use of God’s servants
The church can not only care for the ministers like parents, but also take on the responsibility of managing and using the ministers. When Paul wrote this book, he represented the church to care about Timothy, and also represented the church to make good use of Timothy and serve the church! First, walk in the light. Chinese churches are influenced by Chinese culture and are not used to seeing the light in everything. Always like to be secretive, the church has lost many opportunities for growth. Paul exhorted Timothy: “But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” Rebuking in public is a bit sad, but it’s better than having mold in your heart! Sin will ferment in mildew, and once fermented, it will infect the church, and the consequences will be unimaginable!
Second, shepherd people in maturity. A major hidden danger in life is to overcome one’s emotions, because in emotions, it is difficult for people to listen quickly, speak slowly, and get angry slowly! Even if elders are to be appointed, they should be cautious and not hasty. Otherwise, we may have a share in the sins of others. There are not many pastors ordained by my hands, but the failure rate is quite high! One is an apostate, the other is a speculator, it’s too late to regret it! It made me a lot more cautious in the future, and I no longer dared to appoint a pastor easily. Of course, there is no need to be prejudiced or biased because of this! In short, may God grant maturity and bring people to God!
Finally, stay healthy. Children of God are responsible for their own health! We need to be faithful in our diet. Whatever we eat and drink, the fruit we live out will be what it will be! High blood sugar, eat less carbohydrates; high blood lipids, eat less greasy and so on. Limb discomfort, body aches, may be lack of exercise! Timothy had an insatiable appetite and was often ill. Paul exhorted him to drink clean water and even drink a little wine.
Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, the Bible teaches us to be kind to God’s servants, and even to double honor, for our benefit, can you understand? May God help our hearts to have love and mercy from heaven. Because of the Lord’s love, we love one another and be a good witness!
Let’s pray……
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. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
