Hebrews 13:17 ESV
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
In His goodness to us, God has given us pastors to teach us God’s Word, to encourage us, and even to admonish us if necessary. Your pastor has a most satisfying job — serving the Lord Jesus by leading God’s people. Your pastor also has a most arduous job — because more often than not the opposition that the devil aims at the church is focused on its pastors.
The pastors I know and work with are generally humble and godly men who all have imperfections but love their churches and desire to see the Lord glorified. Most of them are under significant pressure of one sort or another.
I want to encourage you to be intentional about finding ways to help your pastor(s) maintain their joy as they keep watch over your soul. Hebrews 13:17 seems to indicate that doing so would be to your own advantage. And what would be a more appropriate time to do so than the month of October, which is also Pastor Appreciation Month?
Need some ideas? Consider the following. . .
Fight/Pray
If your pastor is doing his job, then he is fighting for you in prayer. In Colossians 4:12 Paul describes the way Epaphras serves the church as, “struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” What a beautiful picture of a pastor struggling, fighting for his people in prayer. Imagine how powerful it would be for you (and others) to return the favor. Fight for your pastor in prayer.
Encourage
If we are honest, most of us would acknowledge that complaining and criticism come far too easily for us. It’s not that your pastor is perfect. He will inevitably make mistakes or let you down. He is human. Decide ahead of time that you will make your complaints to God, but express encouragement to your pastor. Thoughtful and intentional encouragement is a powerful way to help your pastor maintain his joy.
Listen
Listening well is a spiritual discipline. Hopefully you go to church with an expectation that you will meet with God in the preaching of His Word. Of course, this requires active listening with a commitment to “be doers of the word, not hearers only” (James 1:22). As someone who cares for your soul, your pastor will be encouraged by your careful attention and commitment to spiritual growth.
Submit
In our current cultural context, this is probably the most countercultural thing we can do to support our pastor. But the Bible commands it, the health of your church requires it, and our identity in Christ should reflect it. Glad-hearted submission is a wonderful way to show love to your pastor(s).
Be Generous
Your pastor will appreciate gift cards and cash as tokens of your gratitude for his service, especially during the season of pastor appreciation. However, some of my most significant ministry treasures are thoughtful and kind words that congregants have expressed in writing as they detailed an aspect of my service that has particularly ministered to them. Consider being generous not only with a gift, but especially with your words of affirmation.
Leaders are often treated differently than other folks with an expectation that they should be nearly perfect. They are put on pedestals and stranded up there. Yet they are mere mortals with profoundly human needs, who mainly want someone to care for them and their families; someone who will love them enough to have their back no matter what.
Take a minute to ponder Hebrews 13:17 and ask the Lord to inspire you to with an idea to appreciate your pastor in a special way this October. His joy in receiving your appreciation will be to your advantage!
(Pastor Appreciation article adapted from “Fight For Your Pastor” by Peter Orr)