Are you there for them?

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12 ESV)

Typically, we are focused on improving our relationship with God, our ministries, and our family. We should be concerned about ourselves, as Paul reminded us to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5).  I love to hear about how other brothers and sisters help those around them. Hearing of a family member who has grown in Christ warms my heart. But it is not all about us.

Let me ask you, what are you doing for your spiritual leaders? Are you doing anything? How often do you pray for them? Do you talk, text, or email them, or is the only time you think about them is when you are in the sanctuary? When was the last time you thanked them for being there for you? Have you asked for advice and received it? Have you asked them to pray for you? Did you ever thank them for that sermon that touched you? Maybe it brought you to tears, reminding you of God’s mercy in your life. Perhaps it was a message that challenged you, reinvigorated you, stoking the coals of your fire for God.  If you have been counseled or helped by them, did you respond to their correction taking heart in their encouragements?

The sad part is that many leaders cannot have a relationship with their flock because the flock does not come forward to be a part of the Leader’s life. Many leaders have little to no idea of the issues faced by their flock, and it is through no fault of their own. Many require more interaction with their sometimes transient, or transparent church members. Worse yet, many get to the point where they become frustrated and blame themselves for the distance of their flocks.  Let's make their work a blessing and not a burden (Hebrews 13:17).

I am blessed to have an amazing Pastor, and I am very grateful to the Lord for bringing us together. If you have a great leader, recognize their work. They are devoted to helping us understand our God and what God demands from us. Do something for them. Help them whenever possible and thank them for everything they do for the church, for their time, sacrifices, and devotion to serving God. Send a card, a gift card, or a Christian book you found wonderful. Too many church members remain distanced from the leaders. Do not make that mistake.

Grace and Peace!