You know that your pastor is the spiritual leader of your church (Titus 1:5). This reason is why you’ve taken the time to look around in search of the church God would have you attend. You want to make sure that the church’s pastor is a Godly person whose leadership is Biblical and sound.
Now you attend church each Sunday. Maybe you’re even involved in some of the activities that take place there. People know you by name, and the pastor has even taken notice of you. You’re happy with where you are and what you’re doing.
While all of these things are great, they’re not enough. There’s more to being a church member than this. God calls us to bless our pastor. Here are some of the reasons why this is so important.
The Importance of Being a Blessing to Your Pastor
While we rarely ask ourselves what our responsibility to our pastor is, this question isn’t one with which we should be so lackadaisical. This question is one to which our ancestors frequently gave much thought. Samuel Jones (pastor of Lower Dublin Baptist Church, 1763-1814) wrote a church treatise in which he provided 15 responsibilities of church members to their pastor. These are responsibilities we still have to our pastors today, which is why we should pause for just a moment to understand what they include.
Pray for Your Pastor
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2
As Christians, we’re engaged in a tremendous spiritual battle. At the forefront of the battle is your pastor. They need your prayers for protection. They also need our understanding that they are only human too. Due to their human nature, they face struggles with relationships, finances, emotions, and problems like you do. Take a moment to let them know they’re in your prayers.
Send Your Pastor a Note of Appreciation
Send your pastor and their spouse a note of appreciation for their ministry. While they’ll frequently hear complaints about what’s going on in the church, they rarely hear compliments. Therefore a simple note of affirmation can encourage them to keep going when they’re feeling emotionally drained.
Provide for Your Pastor Financially
Many people overlook the importance of being a financial blessing to their pastor, but you shouldn’t. Remember, we serve a God who not only values our spiritual lives, but He also values our physical lives.
Ye are of more value than many sparrows ~ Matthew 10:31
Although we shouldn’t turn money into an idol, we must understand that God knows its significance. This understanding is why James admonishes us:
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ~ James 2:16
With this understanding in mind, it’s essential to take up a special offering for blessing your pastor at least once a year.
Other, Less Frequently Thought of Ideas
Although you may think of blessing your pastor by praying for them, sending them a note of appreciation, or contributing financially, there are also some things you may not think of doing. However, these things are equally as important when blessing your pastor. They include:
- Sharing your skills with your pastor (e.g., barbers can cut their hair, mechanics can fix their car)
- Understand your pastor’s vision for your church
- When you have an issue with your pastor, humbly approach them instead of gossiping about it with other church members
- Don’t compare your pastor to other pastors
Be a Blessing to Your Pastor Today!
Once you understand the importance of blessing your pastor, you want to seek out opportunities to do so actively. These things don’t need to take a lot of time, but there’s no doubt that your pastor will appreciate them. So, what will you do to bless your pastor this week?
