How To Appreciate and Show Love to Spiritual Leaders; First Thessalonians

May the mumbling commence!

Anyone who has ever been a leader will let you know that sometimes leading can be a thankless task.  It becomes thankless not so much when people forget to thank you but when people are belligerent.  There is nothing like trying to lead a stubborn mulish group of people who cannot get along with you or with each other.

Do you want to thank the spiritual leaders among your church body?  Paul gives us a good way to do just that – thank your spiritual leaders.  Read from First Thessalonians chapter five (Peterson’s The Message paraphrase):

And, now friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience.  Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part.  Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on.  Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet.  Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.  And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other.  Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.  (Verses 12-15)

Honoring our spiritual leaders must go beyond a special recognition in a worship service – though that is nice as well.  To really show appreciation and love to our ordained and licensed ministers we should be pleasant to lead.

Can’t we just get along?  It seems to be a simple concept, but we often struggle with it.  Sometimes it is a difference of interpretation of Scripture.  Sometimes it is an imbalance in the work load.

Let each of us do our part.  Do not expect the ordained and licensed ministers to carry the entire load.

So encourage the stragglers.  Provide rest for the exhausted.  Help them get to their feet again.  Be attentive to the needs of others.

And, as we live in community, let us be careful not to get on one another’s nerves.  But, if we do, let us try not to snap at one another.

Be on the lookout for the best in everyone, and seek to bring it out.

If we can do these things together, then we can show our spiritual leaders the appreciation and love they so richly deserve.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out