The Worker Deserves His Wages

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18)

The worker deserves his wages. That’s common sense, isn’t it? When you work, you expect to be paid.

Do you know who also has the right to have that same expectation? Church workers. When church workers work, they can expect to be paid too. The New Testament has a number of different terms for workers in the early Christian church. Earlier in 1 Timothy, we heard about “overseers” (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and “deacons” (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Here we hear about “elders.” Similarly, Christian churches today, depending on their size, often have different types of church workers.

When Paul uses the word “elders” here, he seems to be describing men whom we would normally call “pastors,” especially because these elders were preaching and teaching God’s Word. When elders—or pastors—lead a church and work at preaching and teaching, they are worthy of “double honor.” While that phrase “double honor” certainly refers to respect, it’s also talking about financial support.

Is preaching and teaching really “work”? It’s interesting to see the Greek word that Paul chose for “work.” The word really means to “toil” like a manual laborer. Church members may not see or realize it, but to carefully prepare a sermon or Bible study involves a lot of toil: Studying and struggling and praying and pondering how best to share God’s truths of law and gospel. Being a pastor involves “toil.”

So what do pastors deserve? Their wages. Just like an ox should expect to eat some of the fruit of its labor, the Bible is consistent in encouraging Christians to care for those who share God’s Word with them. Both the Old and the New Testament remind believers that “the worker deserves his wages.”

It’s worth it. Having a full-time pastor (and teachers and other ministers too) brings blessings to God’s people. To allow a man to dedicate his time to studying and visiting and counseling and sharing God’s Word in as many ways as possible is a blessing to everyone.

Dear Lord Jesus, you provide your churches with workers to preach and teach and share God’s Word. Lead all of us to love hearing your Word and to show the preachers of your Word “double honor.” Amen.

Pastor Nathan