1 Thess 5:12-13, Finding Your Perfect Career and Excelling.

Sunday April 23, 2023

Good leadership is absolutely necessary. It is also necessary to respond to good leadership in a positive way.

Leaders need to understand the sacrificial and difficult aspects of the calling. Those under them must understand this too. Not so much the particulars of the leader’s experience, but that several aspects of his ministry are difficult and sacrificial.

Leaders must lead, protect, and care for their people, but do so because they belong to the Lord.

The led must highly esteem them in love, not for them or their title, but for their work. Meaning, if they don’t work, they are not esteemed.

The need for leadership is obvious. Without leadership, chaos results. In any group of people, if everyone does what they desire: a goal is not set, people don’t work together, and the structure eventually falls apart.

Jdg 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

In our society, affirmative action has gotten on steroids. People are elected and promoted in positions of influence for all kinds of reasons other than merit or competency. When this happens you end up with children running things and the important functions of our institutions fall apart.

Isa 3:4

And I will make boys their princes,

and infants shall rule over them. [ESV]

The church is no different. God has clearly instituted leaders in the church. Pastors, deacons, elders, etc. God gives clear instruction on what kind of men they are to be.

1Th 5:12-13

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

The last sentence, “Live in peace with one another,” we’re going to leave for the next thought which centers on Christian conduct.

The purpose of this sentence is the function of Christian leadership and the response to them from the local church.

Theme:

Christian leaders must:

Work hard

Lead, protect, and care for the flock

Teach with warning.

First serve the Lord.

The congregation must:

Esteem them superabundantly in love for their work.

First serve the Lord.

The only translation issue is in the main verb translated “appreciate.” It is an appropriate translation. The NLT translates it “honor those who are your leaders.” The NIV and the ESV us “respect those” who labor (work hard).

“appreciate” is εἰδέναι (eidenai – infinitive of oida = know).

“Now we ask you brothers to know those who work hard among you…” [F.F. Bruce]

“Appreciate” – know that your leaders work hard, teach, and sacrifice for your guidance, protection, and care.

Deacons are included as leaders.

Remember, this is what God wants.

Why does God want His leaders working hard and sacrificing and the congregation esteeming them very highly in love for their work?

We must do what we do in the body of Christ, in our individual ministries, as unto the Lord.

The leader is described by three participles that all share one article. That’s an impressive way of saying that the three descriptions are united.

1Th 5:12-13

“diligently labor” – toil or work hard.

This word is used by Paul for the Thessalonians whose work was a “labor of love” (1:3).

1Th 1:3

constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love

Paul uses the word to describe himself (1Co 4:12; 15:10; Gal 4:11; Col 1:29).

It is used for the church in general in which we are to labor with our own hands and not steal or mouche (Eph 4:28).

1Ti 5:17

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

“have charge over you” – lead, protect, care.

This verb combines all three ideas.

We find this word several times in the pastoral epistles. Some in reference to caring for one’s own household (1Ti 3:4, 5, 12), to caring for (promoting) good works (Tit 3:8, 14), and for elders who rule well (1Ti 5:17).

1Ti 5:17

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

“give you instruction” – admonish (teach and warn).

The teaching is the best part, but not always. The word Paul uses means both instruction and admonition.

2Th 3:14-15

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

1Th 5:13

and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

The response that God desires is that the congregation esteem them superabundantlyin love for their work (not their position or personality).

Some people want the position because they have in mind the response of being esteemed very highly.

The result will be unity and strength and continued growth.

We shouldn’t neglect that Paul writes this directly after he tells us that the Day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. There is no time to waste. Leaders, if they’re not laboring diligently, leading, caring, instructing, and admonishing – today might be your last opportunity. Congregation, if you’re not esteeming your hard working leaders in love for their work – today might be your last opportunity.