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In the day in which we live, if there is one position in the world that should be "counted worthy of double honor', it is that of a true-blue, God-fearing, Bible-believing pastor. Men of God who will rarely break from preaching the Word of God and fighting sin while at the same time trying to love and care for the flock over whom God has given them the oversight, are becoming extinct. Sadly, what few real men of God we have today are being mistreated in many ways by the people God has called them to. It seems that taking care of the pastor's financial needs has become a burdensome chore in many congregations, particularly among many of the older members. I've known many over the years who took passages out of context to justify not paying their pastor properly, while they blindly ignored other portions of the Word of God. I know pastors who have not been given a pay raise in several years, while at the same time they rank at the top of their congregations in giving. How sad and hypocritical it is when church members complain about the small raise they got at work, or the Christmas bonus that just wasn't as much as they thought it should be, while they've neglected the Man of God.

Church leader, it is your job to look after the Man of God's needs. He won't ask! Take care of him. If you don't you will reap what you sow, and God may move him and give you what you deserve. Remember I Timothy 5:17, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine."

Pastor Rick Brown