Joy and Weight

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 (ESV)

As a mom of 3, my days are usually filled with a combination of offering encouragement, giving affection, correcting, disciplining, and apologizing when I mess up.  There is incomparable joy in my role of being a mom, and there is also incomparable weight and responsibility that I carry.  This is parenting.  

In chapter five of 1 Thessalonians, Paul is bringing his letter in for a landing and beginning to draw his thoughts to a close.  In his final instructions, he includes this admonishment:

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, ESV)

Our current cultural climate in the American church can cause many to pause at this instruction.  This can bring up important and valid questions like, “What about unhealthy leaders?  Is Paul encouraging blind obedience and respect to a leader simply because of their position?  Can’t this thinking lead to misuses of power and authority?”  Many of us have been hurt by ungodly leaders, and it can feel difficult to navigate these waters of respect for those in positions over us.

I find a comparison between godly spiritual leadership and parenting to be helpful.  In his work (Authority & Leadership in the New Testament), James W. Thompson writes, “The term rendered "are over you" in the RSV (proistemi) cannoted "caring authority" and "authoritative care." The term brought together the concepts of providing for the needs of others and the exercising of authority over them. It is later used for the work of elders and it was commonly associated with the "caring authority" and "authoritative care" that was the work of parents.”  Paul was writing of true godly spiritual leaders, who were imitators of Christ and were in caring authority over members of the body. 

Though Paul doesn’t write specifically about leadership in this particular letter, his other letters have much to say about servant leadership and the great responsibility carried by those in leadership positions.  

“The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” (2 Timothy 2:24-25, ESV)

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” 1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV)

“He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV)

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1Timothy 4:12 (ESV)

Paul, in both his example as a leader of the church and in his direct teachings, holds up Christlike servant leadership as the standard and calling.  Similar to parenting, those who labor among us and are over us in the Lord (have caring authority over us) carry great joy as well as a great burden of responsibility.  When we are under the caring authority of a godly leader who, though fallible, seeks to follow Jesus, walks with humility and a repentant heart, and follows the Bible’s teachings on leadership as well as growing in Christlikeness, we should honor, appreciate, and respect them.  What a gift they are to the body of Christ.  May we intentionally show love and appreciation to godly leaders with our words, actions, and prayers.  We are all members of one body.  When we honor and appreciate the God-given roles and gifts among us, we are strengthened and able to live out the work God has called us to together.