APOSTOLIC PLEA TO BELIEVERS

"And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). 

Here is an apostolic plea to believers, urging them to value their pastors and respect their spiritual leaders. Paul, writing by the Spirit of God enjoined Christians to love those who have spiritual oversight over them. The Bible says that you are to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. "For their work's sake"? What is it about their job? For those who are truly called of God, ministry is about the riskiest job a man could undertake in this life. You will never know how much attack your pastor receives in his attempt to fight your battles. You won't know what denials he goes through on a regular basis because of you. You will never know what your ministers go through in the course of their job of watching over your soul. 

Many have lost children and spouses in the course of doing ministry to God's people. Many more have lost properties, turned their backs on inheritances, laid down lucrative careers and sacrificed many other things that would have been to their gains, just to ensure that God's message comes to you and that you have credible options on the spiritual menu table. And to be sure, not a few have actually laid down their very lives to preach the gospel and do service for the kingdom of God, leaving behind spouses, children and loved ones. This is why the Scriptures put you under divine obligation to highly esteem your pastor in every possible way. 

To be sure, in this era of fake pastors, false prophets, mercenary preachers and ravening wolves in sheep's clothing, it is not everyone who calls himself a man of God that should be taken seriously. The Bible anticipates this age, which is why we are first required to "know", recognize or identify the genuine servants of God that are around us. We are to prove them, not believing just anybody that puts on a clerical dress, but testing all spirits to be sure that they are of God. Genuine men of God are not to be identified by their affluence, the size of their congregations, the retinue of their bodyguards, the glamour of their cathedrals, their fleet of cars, or the titles they bear. We have been warned that only the ones whose words, deeds and life exalt Jesus Christ are to be trusted (1 John 4:1-2). 

When we have satisfied our conscience, and honestly so, then should we do our best to honour them. That should involve having a high opinion of them and showing them how valuable they are to you. Everyone in this world needs encouragements and affirmations, including the pastors. If your pastor knows that he is loved and valued, he will be encouraged to do better. The truth is that when they are found, genuine men of God are typically men of honour, and so they should be held in highest regard. When we despise them, God takes it as a personal insult and the consequence of that could sometimes be catastrophic. May we never fall into such error.