Think About Your Pastor

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:1-5 KJV)

Your pastor is promised a crown that is not available to the rest of God’s people – a crown of glory that does not fade. It is a tremendous responsibility. The work he does has stringent job requirements:

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV)

Men who do not have a good report to those outside the church receive a great deal of news coverage and we often stereotype all by gleeful reports of spiritual failure. We all have the tendency not to understand that could be any one of us.  Our responsibilities to our pastors are a bit shorter:

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (Hebrews 13:7 KJV)

Paul has a bit more:

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. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 KJV)

These men are called, as the apostles were and as we are, with differing responsibilities:

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, . . . Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: (Romans 1:1, 6 KJV)

As the called of Jesus Christ, we see in Him how we should be:

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15 KJV)

Forbearing [adjective (of a person) patient and restrained; synonyms: patient, tolerant, easygoing, lenient, clement, forgiving, understanding, accommodating, indulgent;] and forgiving [adjective: ready and willing to forgive; synonyms: merciful, lenient, compassionate, magnanimous, humane, softhearted, forbearing, tolerant, indulgent, understanding] – how do we fit into those words when it comes to our Pastors?