Responsibilities As Church Leaders 38 [1Tim 5:17-25] / Anne's Faith Column

 

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Responsibilities As

Church Leaders 38 

[1 Tim 5:17-25]

/ Anne's Faith Column 

 

 

 

/ By Priscilla

 

 

In order for the church

to become the body

of Jesus Christ,

 

 

 

the roles of its leaders

are paramount,

 

 

 

and we have 

 responsibilities to set

them upright and obey

 their authorities.

 

 

 

Do you want to be

a spiritual leader more

than anyone else

 

 

 

because you have

a burning desire

for the Lord?

 

 

 

Then, above all else,

like a sharp edged 

sword, through today's

precious scriptures

 

 

 

from the Lord

that penetrate into

our hearts,

 

 

 

we should receive deep

lessons and examine

ourselves.

 

 

 

Paul tells us to follow

and respect those who

receive the Lord's mission

in the church community,

 

 

 

devote themselves to

the Word and teaching,

 

 

 

commit their lives,

devote themselves

day and night,

 

 

 

and work

wholeheartedly

and faithfully for

  this purpose.

 

 

 

Paul also urges

all of us, members

of the church, to:

 

 

 

For the

Scripture says,

 

 

 

"Do not muzzle the ox

while it is trading 

out the grain." 

(1 Tim 5 : 18)

 

 

 

This means that all of us,

the members of the church,

should not doubt this

and trust each other

 

 

 

and work together

so that the workers

 

 

 

who work diligently

on behalf of God can do

their work sufficiently.

 

 

 

However,

there is one thing

that we should not

over look at this time

 

 

 

- the words are based

on the premise that

they are 'loyal servants

of God and those who

  faithfully fulfill their

duties'.

 

 

 

Remember,

when Jesus Christ

expressed God's

principles in nature

 

 

 

to his disciples,

he compared them

to insignificant things,

 

 

 

such as a wild flower

or a sparrow, which

 seemed of little value!

 

 

 

The scene where

Jesus taught with 

the scriptures of

 

 

 

to all of us who want

to become more like

the Lord comes to

mind clearly at this

moment.

 

 

 

"Therefore I tell you,

do not worry about

your life, what you

will eat or drink;

 

 

 

or about your body,

what you will wear.

Is not life more

important than food,

 

 

 

and the body more

important than clothes?

 

 

 

Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap

or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly

Father feeds them.

 

 

 

Are you not much

more valuable than

they? "

(Matt 6 : 25-26) 

 

 

 

These are precious

words of comfort to us

from our heavenly

Father.

 

 

 

Therefore,

even when we are

caught in the snares

of our environment

 

 

 

or when we are faced

with difficult situations,

we should not lose

heart and rise again

with courage.

 

 

 

Also, we will have to

establish the image

of a humble

 

 

 

and loyal leader

who is obedient while

looking only to the Lord.

 

 

 

In the

presence of God,

Christ Jesus, and the

elect angels, the rules

to be followed as

leaders

 

 

 

and workers of the

church are as follows.

 

 

1)The elders who direct

the affairs of the church

well are worthy of

 double honor,

 

 

 

especially those whose

work is preaching

and teaching.

(1Tim 5 : 17)

 

 

 

2) Do not entertain

an accusation against

an elder unless it is

brought by two or

three witnesses.

 

 

3) Those who sin are

to be rebuked publicly,

so that the others may

take warning.

 

 

 

4) In the sight of God

and Christ Jesus

and the elect angels,

 

 

 

keep these instructions

without partiality,

and do nothing out

of favoritism.

 

 

Do not be hasty in

the laying on of hands,

and do not share

in the sins of others.

 

 

Keep yourself pure.

(1Tim 5 : 19-22)

 

 

Furthermore,

we must commit

ourselves to:

 

 

 

1) We should throw away

the prejudice of leaders

who try to carry out

only their own will

in their thoughts.

 

 

 

2) We should take

the Word of God

 

 

 

as a milestone

and should not lean

toward either side.  

 

 

 

3) Do not be hasty in

the laying on of hands.

We should only give

glory to God.

 

 

 

4) We should not be

deeply involved

 

 

 

or absorved in other

people's lives, sins,

or any other issues.  

 

 

 

5) We should examine

ourselves and be on

the lookout not to

be stained with evil,

 

 

 

but we should keep

ourselves pure.

 

 

 

Ultimately,

our duties as church

 leaders are to keep our

religions with faith

in order to set

our hearts

 

 

 

and follow rules,

while we snould

always be aware

that we are sinners

before God,

 

 

 

so that we can not

lose our humility,

and we should

always cultivate

 

 

 

and protect ourselves

so that we can not

act rashly.

 

 

Lord! 

 

 

Please cleanse us

first with the hyssop

plant so that we can

keep ourselves

 

 

 

unstained by the

world!

 

 

 

Amen!

 

 

 

 

2009/06/15

 

 

/ By Priscilla