GOD’S GIFT

I’ve been married for 44 years. Some years ago, it dawned on me that God had not only given me a wonderful wife, but He had given me His own precious daughter, His “little girl.” With that realization came the understanding that I was to take care of her not only as my wife but as His daughter. I also saw that, one day in the future, He will ask me how well I took care of His little girl. I hope I not only pass that exam but do so with His “Well done.”

But if it is only the thought of that final exam that moves me to take care of her as she needs me to do so, I have missed the point: I have not understood God’s gift. It’s not just that I have a responsibility to take care of God’s daughter but that He has given me the privilege of doing so. Think of it: I have the unbelievable privilege of taking care of his precious daughter.  

On November 22, 1980, in Lakeland, Florida, my father-in-law stood at an altar and placed the hands of his daughter in mine. He gave her to me not only as my wife but also as his little girl and as the incredible woman she is. He trusted me to take care of her not only to the best of my ability but in a way that meets her deepest needs and pleases God.

Twice in my life, I have stood at altars and given my daughters to men who made solemn vows to take care of my gifts to them. Not only to receive them as wives but to receive them as my daughters and the very special women that they are. To receive them as God’s own daughters.

My wife. My daughters. Each one a treasured gift from God.

OUR GRATITUDE

Whenever God gives us a gift, two responses are called for:

Gratitude and care.

This is true of every gift. If you give me a new book, I should say a sincere thank you, and then, just as sincerely, take care of the book.

If I accept the book without saying “Thank you,” this says much about my attitude toward the gift and the giver.

If you give me a book and I say “Thank you,” but then toss it aside or even abuse the book, this also says much about my attitude toward the gift and the giver.

The same is true in receiving God’s gift of my wife, His daughter. If I am truly grateful for His gracious gift, I say thank you to Him every day for her, and I do all that I can to take care of her.

Husbands and wives, be sure to demonstrate your thanks to God for the gift of your spouse, not only to the giver of your gift but to the gift him or herself.  

YET ANOTHER GIFT FROM GOD

With the same subject in mind, let’s turn our attention to the church.

The Bible says God has given gifts to his people; among these gifts is the office of the pastor and the individual who serves in that office.

When God’s people have this gift, they live in the flow of God’s heart, fed by their pastor with knowledge and understanding:

Jeremiah 3.15: “I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

When God’s people lack this gift, they have the compassion of God, but not the flow of God’s heart; they become distressed and downcast:

Matthew 9.36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Yes, we are to obey God and steward our pastors. We are to take care of them as their Lord would do so if He were physically present. That is a given.

We are even to give double honor to those who labor in the Word and lead well:

I Timothy 5.17:” The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

And yes, God will one day hold every church member accountable for how well they took care of their pastor, how well a local congregation stewards the gift God has given it – not only in financial care, but in soul care. This is also a given.

But let me encourage you to look at stewarding your pastor in a new way.

Not only do churches have the responsibility of taking care of their pastors, but they have the privilege of doing so, just as I have the privilege of taking care of God’s daughter, my wife.

Just as it is not a burden to me to provide for her the care she needs and deserves, it need not be a burden for a church to care for its pastor. It should be a joy. God gave you pastors, shepherds after His own heart who:

• feed you with knowledge and understanding:
• keep you from being harassed or helpless;
• lead you well in the things of God;
• work hard at preaching and teaching;
• devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Acts 6.4

CARE

To have a pastor is an amazing gift! And that God would give this particular person – and their family – as your pastor is an especially wonderful thing. How could we ever not want to take care of them to the very best of our ability?

Here’s the bonus. As you work with your church and church leaders to take care of your pastor, not only will it be a blessing to the one who shepherds you, but it will be a blessing to all of the church. As you take care of your pastor, you place them in a position to take better spiritual care of the members of your faith community and fulfill their calling to guide you to green pastures and still waters.

And here’s a second bonus. As churches take care of their pastors and honor their charge to God to steward the gift He has given them, God will bless that church with even more gifts. I’m not talking about the prosperity gospel (which is no gospel at all). I am talking about God sending individuals and families our way, God blessing our ministries, and God manifesting His presence to us. After all, when God sees that He can trust us with the precious gift of our pastor, He knows He can trust us with more and many gifts (Matthew 25.1-30).

So, here’s to our pastors, the servants of God who provide and protect. And here’s to the churches who take care of them, the servants of God who steward God’s precious gift.

NOTE: This article is the fourth in my series on the subject of stewarding our pastors. I invite you to read the preceding articles as well for a more comprehensive understanding of this critical issue.

Pastoral Compensation Survey: Young Pastors Talk Salary, Health Care, and More

It’s the Best of Times. It’s the Worst of Times. Being a Young Pastor in the 2020s

Pastoral Care: How to Steward Your Pastor

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“Of all vocations, surely the gospel ministry is the one whose paradigm is most radically formed by the dynamics of godly mentorship.” 

Stephen Baldwin