Clergy Appreciation

 

October has been designated as “Clergy Appreciation Month” It’s a great idea, to show our appreciation for those who serve as our pastors and religious leaders. But you know, God has ALWAYS appreciated His “clergy.” In the Old Testament the role of clergy went to the Levites. This role carried with it tremendous responsibility, and God saw to it that their physical needs were well taken care of by the congregation. The same holds true for our clergy today. They too, have tremendous responsibilities in “rightly dividing the Word of truth,” and caring for the flock of God entrusted to their care.

 

They need our generous financial supply. They need us to step up in areas of ministry, where they are often overwhelmed, and they need our prayers. Let’s face it, they all have targets on their backs because the devil knows that he can cause major damage to the church, if he can get a pastor to fall.

 

I bring all this up today, because as I was reading about the reign of Hezekiah, I came across these verses in 2Ch 31:4,5 “Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. 5 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

A couple of truths that carry over into the New Testament are worth mentioning here. The first comes from the Apostle Paul as he speaks to the duty to support those who feed us spiritually: 1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

 

Secondly, the congregation should look for ways to help the pastor, so he can be freed up for his most important work of prayer and ministering of the Word. This came to light early in the church, as we read in the Book of Acts:

 

Ac 6:2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

 

Ask yourself, what can our congregation do to please God in serving our pastor?

God certainly appreciates their calling, shouldn’t we?