"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."
(1 Timothy 5:17, From Today's Epistle Reading)
I have never had a problem with receiving tithes and offerings from people, because I have always, "labor[ed] in the word and doctrine," and, I might add, prayer. Allan Vincent once said, "Prayer is hard work." Anyone who has ever been serious about praying knows what he was talking about.
First of all, one of the descriptions of the Greek word for, "rule," means "protector or guardian, to give aid, care for, give attention to." What a great description of our "Head Elder," and, "Chief Shepherd," Jesus, and, what a sobering reminder to elders, "who rule....!" Secondly, the word for, "labor," in our text means "intense desire, great trouble, grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens, bodily labor," yes, you read right, "bodily labor."
The cynics in the world (and in too many churches) think that a pastor, preacher/teacher does not engage in "work," especially, hard work. So many people are practicing "communists"-- if a man's fingernails are not dirty, he doesn't do real work. It is pathetically amusing to me that politicians' reference to "hard working families" is always the clock punching, coal digging, factory worker. I guess the rest of us are just lazy good-for-nothings. Well, sorry to those folks, but the Bible begs to differ. We elders who, "especially... labor in the word and doctrine," are just as much "hard working" as those who dig the coal, work the auto assembly lines, and drive those big rigs, and, horror of horrors to most people, we are, "worthy of double honor." And, yes, you guessed it; the word for, "honor," here means "a valuing by which the price is fixed." Hmm-- I guess I should be getting double pay.
People will pay very good money for what they want and what they value. What and whom do you value today?
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the privilege of a life of, "labor in the word and doctrine." Amen.
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New Revealing, Prophetic Articles at: www.apf327.blogspot.com
(1 Timothy 5:17, From Today's Epistle Reading)
I have never had a problem with receiving tithes and offerings from people, because I have always, "labor[ed] in the word and doctrine," and, I might add, prayer. Allan Vincent once said, "Prayer is hard work." Anyone who has ever been serious about praying knows what he was talking about.
First of all, one of the descriptions of the Greek word for, "rule," means "protector or guardian, to give aid, care for, give attention to." What a great description of our "Head Elder," and, "Chief Shepherd," Jesus, and, what a sobering reminder to elders, "who rule....!" Secondly, the word for, "labor," in our text means "intense desire, great trouble, grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens, bodily labor," yes, you read right, "bodily labor."
The cynics in the world (and in too many churches) think that a pastor, preacher/teacher does not engage in "work," especially, hard work. So many people are practicing "communists"-- if a man's fingernails are not dirty, he doesn't do real work. It is pathetically amusing to me that politicians' reference to "hard working families" is always the clock punching, coal digging, factory worker. I guess the rest of us are just lazy good-for-nothings. Well, sorry to those folks, but the Bible begs to differ. We elders who, "especially... labor in the word and doctrine," are just as much "hard working" as those who dig the coal, work the auto assembly lines, and drive those big rigs, and, horror of horrors to most people, we are, "worthy of double honor." And, yes, you guessed it; the word for, "honor," here means "a valuing by which the price is fixed." Hmm-- I guess I should be getting double pay.
People will pay very good money for what they want and what they value. What and whom do you value today?
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the privilege of a life of, "labor in the word and doctrine." Amen.
**********************
New Revealing, Prophetic Articles at: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
