“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and who 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.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
Leadership in the church isn’t about power or authority for its own sake. It’s about servants who labor among us, working alongside us in the trenches of ministry. Paul reminds us that biblical leaders don’t lord their position over others but instead roll up their sleeves and work shoulder to shoulder with the congregation. When we see leaders who are preparing messages, meeting with hurting people, organizing ministries, and still showing up to serve, we’re seeing what God designed leadership to look like. These aren’t distant managers but fellow laborers in the harvest field.
The call here isn’t just to acknowledge leaders but to actively lift them up. Think about your life group leader, your pastor, or those serving in various ministry roles. When was the last time you sent an encouraging text, offered to lighten their load, or committed to pray for them regularly? Leadership can be lonely and draining, especially when people treat church like a product to consume rather than a family to invest in. This week, choose one leader in your life and find a practical way to honor and encourage them. Your support might be exactly what they need to keep going.
Reflect:
- Who are the leaders God has placed in my life, and how can I better support them this week?
- Am I approaching church with a consumer mindset or a family mindset?
- Ask God to bless and strengthen the leaders in your church and life groups, and ask Him to show you specific ways to encourage them.
