Discipleship Training
Attracting the Favor and Blessings of God
Double Honor
Lesson#11
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those
who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle
an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
I Timothy 5:17-18
According to the Word of God, we’re to give ministers of the gospel twice as much honor as we would to other leaders. Our behavior and speech toward Christian leaders should be with the utmost respect. We should address them formally, we should maintain eye contact with them, and we should listen attentively as he/she teaches and preaches the Word.
Engaging in conversation, sending and receiving text messages, and using cell phones while in a service is indicative of dishonoring the minister/servant of God.
We should look for ways to serve our leaders without being asked. Our aim must always be one that denotes excellence in all that we do in representing them.
Should a Leader seek Honor?
By no means at all, a leader who does so is out of step with God’s heart.
“I crave no human honor.”
John 5:41 (AMP)
“No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you
don’t care about the honor that comes from God alone.”
John 5:44 (NLT)
These are the types of leaders who seek the praise and honor of men in order to feed their ego, pride, and controlling personalities.
Double Finances:
In our key verse for this lesson, Apostle Paul makes a strong reference to finances. He completes this text with, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
“Elders who do their work well should be paid well.” (NLT)
“Church leaders who do their jobs well deserve to be paid twice as much,
especially if they work hard at preaching and teaching.”
(TEV)
“The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of
receiving double pay.”
(TEV)
“Elders who perform their duties well are to be considered double worthy,
“of adequate financial support.”
(AMP)
God specifically states that ministers of the gospel are to be honored by being paid handsomely for their labor.
Honor the Lord:
When we honor God we attract His honor toward us. What is one practical way by which we honor God?
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first – fruits of
all your increase.”
Proverbs 3:9
Simply put, we are instructed to honor God by giving him money we have been blessed to receive.
“If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your
material things…Even so the Lord has commanded that these who preach
the gospel should live from the gospel.”
I Corinthians 9:11, 14
Notes:
