1 Timothy 5:17-25

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”  Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.  Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.  (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.  So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

The Lord has equipped, called, and qualified some men the privilege of being spiritual shepherds within the church.  This is an awesome responsibility that comes with some privileges and protections but needs to be entered into with great precautions.  Paul gives further instructions on how to identify and treat those who have been separated for the purpose of ministering in that way.

THE COMPENSATION OF PASTORS: Those who dedicate their lives to the ministry of teaching the Word of God should receive financial support for their work.  This is a principle that Paul taught but did not always benefit from.  Paul was a tent maker by trade and supported his itinerate ministry by making tents to sell.  However, he did accept offerings from the churches he planted that allowed him to focus more on the ministry.  However, just because Paul was bi-vocational in his ministry, does not mean that all ministers should be.  It is right for the congregation to whom a pastor ministers to support him and his family adequately.

THE CORRECTION OF PASTORS: As public figures, minister of the Gospel who teach the Scriptures accurately will likely offend people who want to live disobedient lives or fill the church with false teaching.  People who are offended by a minister may seek to get revenge by bringing accusations against him.  Paul offers the protection of requiring two to three witnesses to ministers.  That does not mean that accusations of abuse of power brought by one person must be completely dismissed without any kind of investigation.  But we must also be careful not to allow a disgruntled congregant to destroy the ministry of a pastor through false accusations.  While minister enjoy this extra protection, they also face a stiffer discipline when they are proven to be living is sin.  They are to be publicly rebuked in the church.  Since they are public figures and representatives of the church; they carry a greater responsibility, and their sin has greater consequences for the entire community.  Sin should not be swept under the rug, but exposed so that the fear of the Lord is instilled in the lives of the other leaders as well as the entire congregation.

THE CONSECRATION OF PASTORS: Since ministers receive support and represent such high consequences when they act sinfully, we must be careful in ordaining men into ministry.  We should not be in a hurry to do this.  Many churches and ministries have a leadership gap and are desperate to find qualified leaders.  However, Paul warns that we must be careful to observe candidates for ministry in a variety of situations so we can validate their qualifications and character.  Some sinful habits are evident while others may take time to be revealed.  However, the positive aspects of a person’s character and their good works will also become evident over time.  Identifying and training leaders is a vitally important aspect of ministry.  Ministry can be stressful, and it seems God often uses people with physical and health challenges to advance His work.  Timothy seems to have some challenges in this area, so Paul instructs him to use wine medicinally to help with some of these issues.

APPLICATION: Give faithfully to the local church we attend to help support the ministers who serve in that church.  Pray for them regularly and protect them from unjust attacks while also holding them accountable for their failures.  Be patient with the ordination of men into the Gospel ministry.  Be sure to examine the capabilities as well as their character closely.