APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERS by Rev Richard Tan
Obey your spiritual leaders and recognize their authority, for they keep watch over your soul without resting since they will have to give an account to God for their work. So it will benefit you when you make their work a pleasure and not a heavy burden.
Hebrews 13:17 (TPT)
According to the Apostle Paul, if we want to develop a spiritually robust and healthy church, we must obey our church leaders and recognise their authority. Most churchgoers are unaware of the stress, obstacles, and problems that their church leaders encounter in their ministry.
We must acknowledge that our leaders are not superhuman or immune to sorrow, anguish, or grief. They have difficult days and tough moments, but they keep going because they understand how vital their ministry is to the overall well-being of the community they are responsible for and serve.
If we want our church to be a loving and caring community, we must learn to love and care for those who love and care for us. We must recognise that our leaders deserve to be appreciated, honoured, and respected. They must be defended when they are treated unfairly, as well as affirmed when they are feeling disheartened and defeated.
Loyalty is a crucial communal trait. To be loyal means to be faithful to our leaders and supportive of their leadership endeavours and avoid undermining them in any way. If you are not loyal to your leaders, it will be difficult to submit to and work alongside them in a way that honours Christ.
When you are unable to appreciate or honour the leaders in your church (not because they have done something wrong but because of your own expectations), your first instinct is to leave and find another leader from another church who is appealing and exciting. What you must understand is that anyone who is appealing and exciting will soon become familiar and ordinary in your sight.
You must train your thoughts and renew your mind in how you relate to the leaders God has brought into your life. When you do so, you will encounter God’s grace in such depth that you will remain faithful to your sense of belonging and call to submission in Christ.
Richard Tan
Pastor Firstlight Church
ICF is a licensed English-Speaking Interdenominational International Church for Expatriates and friends in HCMC. Our service is at 11 AM.