Caring The Servants of God
(Reflection from Nehemiah 12:1-47)
“Christian reflection about Supporting of Servants of God”
This topic is quite sensitive. Moreover, I myself am a servant of God.
There are servants of God who sometimes forget that before they surrendered to be the servants of God and even now that they have been appointed as servants of God - they are still God's congregation too.
So I tried to write this from the perspective of an ordinary church member.
Because Nehemiah 12 is too interesting for me not to write about. Divided into 3 major parts, namely:
- Who are they (vv. 1-26)?
- What kind of ministry do they perform (vv. 27-43)?
- Where do their life guarantees come from (vv. 44-47)?
I still believe that there are many servants of God who continue to serve faithfully and sincerely. Although the current culture of open information has opened up the fact that there are servants of God who serve their own interests.
That is not surprising either, because since Old Testament times there have been and I think they will continue to the end of time. There are pastors, or servants of God who “shepherd themselves” and take personal advantage of their congregations (See: Ezekiel 43).
But once again, there are also many servants of God who serve faithfully and sincerely.
How do we love them? Because aren't they also human?
# 1 Respect God's Servants
Every best ministry is given by faithful and sincere servants of God, is always done with the price of sacrifice something.
Time is one of them.
Such as preparation for ministry takes a great deal of time if it is done diligently and faithfully.
I believe that the celebration of the dedication of the Jerusalem walls took a great deal of time preparing and implementing it.
Each section must prepare itself with maximum preparation and practice. It is impossible to suddenly appear to serve. Especially in verses 27-43 it says that there are choirs, there are singers, there are musicians, there are leaders, and so on.
Is it all just for an event? What is the point?
Perhaps similar to what churches do today to prepare for their Easter or Christmas services. Months of training. Preparatory meeting. Coordination between service departments.
What was it all done for? Just for an event?
Certainly not. Rather, it is so that each congregation can get the maximum spiritual meaning from the celebrations being held.
Namely regarding:
- Presence of God.
- Goodness of God.
- God's faithfulness.
- God's acceptance.
- HIS Forgiveness.
Whether it's in celebrations, or counseling, or Sunday services, or cell group meetings, or others; all of that consumes a lot of time and energy.
The time they could decide to spend selfishly on their own. But they did not, because of their love for God and His church.
Servants of God sacrifice time and many other things that they have never taken into account for many people to know.
How do we value them?
The title of the verses 1-26 is "The list of priests and Levites".
The title of this passage "LIST" can inspire us how we appreciate the service of each of our Lord's servants.
Namely: State their names.
- In our thanks.
- In our prayers.
- In a greeting that shows respect.
Do we often thank the Lord's servants for their service?
Do we pray for them, their wives, their children often?
Do we call them with respectful greetings?
# 2 Supporting God's Servants
For some people it is a bit difficult to accept this truth: servants of God are human beings too.
I'm not just talking that they make mistakes either. But regarding their needs as humans.
Not everyone wants and is able to become servants of God, the same is the case that not everyone can and wants to become a doctor, or a teacher, or a trader, or an electrician, and so on.
But everyone works to make ends meet.
Even for God's servants, they are often have to think about the adequacy of the life needs of their congregation whom they serve as well.
And it is unhealthy for the servants of God or their families, if they have to sacrifice the basic needs of their life "for the sake of ministry".
I have heard about the families of God's servants who were destroyed, because the children felt that their father who was a pastor thought more about the adequacy of other people's food than for their own homes.
I think we have to realize that "pastor family" doesn't mean that everyone in the house is a pastor. The kids are not, the wife is not, the parents are not. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding there.
There are basic needs that must be met there. And verses 44-47 actually only re-establish what the word of God has ordained, that God's servants get their life financial support from the ministry.
Through our offerings.
Once again I must say that our suspicions may be an excuse for us to oversee church finances, but it should not be an excuse for us not to obey God's commands regarding our supposed financial offering to God’s House.
Moreover, there is a close connection between our spiritual restoration and our attitude toward God's House.
(See: Spiritual Restoration and God's House)
I know that there are churches that fail to manage the proper use of their offering money. But, again, not all churches are the same. And there are always churches that manage their offerings with integrity, transparency and responsibility.
The church you belong to is likely one of them.
Be faithful in giving offerings. Because it is a form of our support and love for God's servants - AND THEIR FAMILY.
It is very sad every time I hear the story of a servant of God who is "diligent in serving" to make ends meet for his family.
Let us support them so that they can focus and faithfully serve God.
Let us support them to serve out of moderation, and without worrying about need.
We encourage them to “go out for ministry” to bless, not to seek needs.
Read also: Serve with Willingly
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