Pastor Appreciation

Hebrews 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

The month of October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Many congregations enjoin in recognizing the work of their pastors and some may offer small tokens of their esteem and delight in their under shepherd. Although this is a not necessarily a biblical occasion, it does stem from a biblical principle to care for those who lead a body of Christ.

Many think the job of a pastor is to only preach a sermon on Sunday, or may have a notion that the pastor only works 2 hours a week. I can dispel this notion having served as an associate pastor, witnessing firsthand, what my pastor went through on a daily basis. The countless hours spent counseling a couple in a broken marriage, or the numerous hospital visits to the sick and ill. There are hours spent in preparation for an adult Sunday School lesson or sitting in staff meetings. Then there are the numerous hours spent in prayer and pouring over scriptures to write a sermon so he can feed the flock with the word of God.

Over the years, as a fellow workman of the gospel and partner in the ministry, I have grown a greater affection and appreciation for what our spiritual leader goes through. Having assumed this responsibility now as a pastor of our home fellowship, this appreciation grows even greater.

As the writer to the Hebrews suggests, we ought to be more aware of what our pastors and elders go through. He is given a charge to not just preach, but to be a watchman for your soul. This means being compassionate and patient with the man of God, so you may benefit. This means being less critical of his style and approach to the pulpit, unless he is breathing out heresy and blasphemy.

The pastor is not only accountable to you, but moreover, he is accountable to God. For God will hold him more accountable than the regular Sunday worshiper.

We can all find some way of extending our appreciation to the one God has called to serve you. By no means does this refer to worshiping a pastor. God forbid! But we should take a moment from time to time to show our appreciation and joy for what our pastors do in caring for the flock of any church. A simple prayer, a token of appreciation, or whatever is fitting of your appreciation will go along way in encouraging your shepherd to continue in the fight for the faith.

Here's a prayer you can pray over your pastor from Ephesians 1:15-21

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.