Well, we’re back in 1 Timothy. We took a week off from this series as Pastor Dirck taught us from Mark 14 , about the prayer life of Jesus.
Today, we’re going to talk about how we treat those in positions of authority.
Now, you might think, “Haven’t we already talked about this in 1 Timothy?”
Well, yes, we have. However, Paul comes back to this issue again in his letter, so we will come back to this issue again today.
Today’s sermon is entitled “Showing Honor in the Church and Beyond.”
Before we dive into the passage itself, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to speak to us. Join me now in prayer.
(prayer)
Ok, let’s look at this passage together, then we will walk through it.
Look at 1 Timothy 5:17-6:2:
5:17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, The worker is worthy of his wages.
19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.
6:1 All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and his teaching will not be blasphemed. 2 Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things.
Ok, so we see some instructions on honoring elders; we also see some instructions about honoring masters. So, let’s dive in a little more and see what we can learn.
First, let’s learn that . . .
I. Church leaders should be generously honored.
Paul says very clearly in verse 17, “The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor . . .”
Remember, the term elder is one of several words used in the New Testament to refer to pastors of local churches.
Notice that Paul says “double honor.”
Paul has already said elsewhere that all leaders should be honored. However, Paul wants to make a distinction that church leaders are worthy of double honor.
You see, some people may be under the impression that church leaders ought not to be compensated well, because, after all, they’re serving the Lord.
In fact, I’ve heard of some churches who intentionally pay their pastors poorly so that they can keep them humble. Let me just point out that it is the Holy Spirit’s place to keep the pastor humble, not some committee or board from a church.
I’m grateful to be a part of a church who is willing to pay me to do what I love, which is pastoring God’s people.
For those churches who intentionally pay pastors poorly, it’s not only unkind to the pastor and his family; it’s also unbiblical.
Paul gives a biblical illustration in verse 18 to drive home his point when he says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”
In other words, if you keep feeding an ox while it is working, it will work harder, and it will work longer.
Here’s the principle: if you take care of the leaders of the church, they’re going to be better pastors for you. If they don’t have to worry about scraping up money to pay their bills, they will have more time and energy to devote to the work of ministry at the church.
Paul goes on to say in verse 18, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
If pastors and church leaders serve the church well, the church should honor them well. In fact, they should honor them with a double portion.
You might ask, “What if they’re not good leaders?”
Well, Paul addresses that. Paul says in verse 17, “ . . . elders who are good leaders . . .”
If they’re not good leaders, then they aren’t worthy of double honor. However, I also believe that if pastors aren’t doing a good job, working hard, and leading well, something ought to be done. Perhaps they need to be in a new position or at a new church. The scenario that Paul gives us is a church who honors good leaders. So, both parties must be part of this process.
Paul also adds, “especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
Now, at this point, you might think I’m advocating for myself. However, I assure you that I do not have a time machine, and I did not go back in time and ask Paul to write this down.
This is the Word of God, and this is His message to us, His church.
Some, however may believe that certain church leaders are not doing a good job. How should we handle concerns with pastors?
Well, I’m glad you asked. That’s our next point:
II. Church leaders should be carefully rebuked.
Because church leaders are to generally have good and godly character, and because church leaders are worthy of double honor, those who seek to bring an accusation or rebuke against church leaders should do so very carefully.
Listen again to what Paul says here. Look at verse 19: “Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.”
Man, I wish churches observed this rule.
Over the last six years, I have had several accusations brought against me by a small number of people at our church.
Somebody said once that I told a person they couldn’t become a member of our church without taking a test (not true). Somebody said once that I told a member of our church that they were not a Christian (not true). Someone said recently to a pastor in another church that I was blowing our church’s money (not only is that not true, it’s not possible; I have no control over our church budget). In each of these cases, there were not two or three witnesses who brought the accusation. It was one person passing it on to another, usually through gossip.
Paul is clear that an accusation against an elder should be genuine, and it be should verified by two or three people.
Let me just say, most of those who slander and gossip about the pastors in our church, we usually find out about it. Sometimes it’s hurtful, sometimes it’s so far-fetched that it’s humorous, but it is always sinful and evil. I’m very grateful that there are very few people who do that in our church family.
I’m also grateful for how our church shows love and honor to our pastors. We usually find out about that as well, so thank you; may God bless you for your faithfulness.
Notice, though, that Paul does anticipate that there may be times for elders (or church leaders) to be rebuked. He says in verse 20, “Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.”
If church leaders do sin, and certainly if they are unrepentant, they should be publicly rebuked before the church.
You see, church leaders must understand how serious the calling and job is, and the sin of a pastor is a serious issue; after all, they are to be above reproach.
Paul then warns Timothy to be fair and impartial in how he treats other elders, and to be careful not to associate with those elders who are sinful.
He says further not to appoint church leaders too quickly. As he has already said in chapter 3, leading a church is a noble calling, and it’s a serious calling.
So, church leaders are to be doubly honored, they are not to be accused without credibility, and they are to be kept from sin as much as possible.
Next, Paul transitions to short little tidbits of wisdom and instruction, stuck in this passage.
Look again at verses 23-25:
23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.
Paul provides three bits of wise instruction for Timothy here:
Drink some wine for medicinal purposes.
2. Sins, whether obvious or not, will eventually become known.
3. Good works, whether obvious or not, will eventually become known.
First of all, church: it’s good for us to remember that the Bible does not command that we are to totally refrain from alcoholic beverages.
The Bible does say that we should use wisdom and moderation in all things.
The Bible does say that drunkenness is foolish and sinful.
The Bible does say we should obey the laws of the land.
The Bible does not say alcohol is inherently sinful.
Also, we must remember that God knows our sin as well as our good works. He will judge us and reward us as He sees fit.
However, Paul points out that others will also notice our sin and our good works. So, whether it is how we treat our pastors, or whatever, let us walk in good works, not in sin.
Finally, . . .
III. Other leaders should be thoughtfully respected.
Paul spends a couple of verses in chapter 6 speaking of another authority relationship in the Greco-Roman world.
It’s important to point out, while we are speaking of slaves and masters in these two verses, that what was happening in the ancient Roman Empire was not the same type of slavery that happened in the 1800s in America.
Roman slavery was not based on discrimination against one particular ethnicity. Rather, one could become a slave by several different means, including being born into slavery, owing a financial debt, paying a penalty for a crime, or being conquered in war.
Paul has already spoken elsewhere about honoring authority, and he means for those under the authority of a master to do the same.
Paul wants Christian slaves to know that those who are disrespectful to their masters can tarnish the name of Jesus.
Likewise, Christian slaves who have Christian masters should not try to take advantage of their masters simply because they are brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather, they should honor them even more because they are family.
Now, let’s be clear, Paul is neither condemning nor affirming slavery. What he is speaking about is how Christians treat those who have authority over them.
Paul then adds at the end, “Teach and encourage these things.”
Here’s the point of this and all that Paul has said: the people of God ought to show honor to those who are in positions of authority.
That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom line: Christians should show proper respect to leaders, particularly church leaders.
Don’t forget, Paul says that the overseers, elders, or pastors of the church are worthy of double honor.
However, every person in authority has been put there by God for His own reason.
Remember, Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”
So, Christians should show proper respect to those in authority, especially those in authority in the church.
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge #1 – Consider how you honor leaders in your life.
Who are some of the leaders in your life, outside of church? How do you show honor to them?
How do you honor your boss? What about your parents or teachers? What about local law enforcement? What about city officials, our governor, or our president? Do you show honor to those in authority, as the Bible commands you to do?
Challenge yourself to consider that this week.
Weekly Challenge #2 – Consider how you honor church leaders.
This is a bit awkward for me to speak about this because I’m one of your church leaders. However, it’s in the Bible, so I’ll speak to it.
Think this week about how you show honor to the leaders of our church. Just to be clear, Paul is speaking primarily about pastors.
How do you (as an individual) do when it comes to honoring the pastors of our church?
Do you honor God by obeying His Word when it comes to showing double honor to our pastors?
Do you entertain gossip or accusations against our pastors? Do you allow others to do so?
Consider that question this week.
(Gospel presentation – God has a design for our church, and He has a design for you)
(closing prayer)
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