Respecting the office of those who serve.

I Sam. 24:6  “The LORD knows I shouldn’t have done it,” he said to his men.  “It is a serious thing to attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”

David had such a high regard for the man, King Saul, whom God had anointed to be king over Israel.  David had a sense that it was wrong to take lightly those whom the Lord had chosen and appointed to a task.  There needs to be a much high regard for the offices of our spiritual leaders than most of us have these days.  We treat as mundane and insignificant those who rule over us.  There are many reasons why this is true.

When God calls and places people into positions of leadership, it is no small thing.  Many do not regard their role in the church as a high calling.  They do not honor it by the way they conduct themselves.  They aspire to be served rather than to serve.  They do not spend the time in the Word and prayer they need to in order to keep their hearts pure and humble before God.  They consider their position as more of a job than a calling to serve.  They get careless and do not set a good example to follow.  They use their position for personal gain or to stroke their egos.  They get too comfortable in their roles and lose the sense of appreciation for what God has given them to do.  They become more concerned about pleasing people than pleasing God.  They develop weak spines and cater to the whims of people.  They get so busy with busyness that they do not diligently study to show themselves approved of God. 

I believe that if we were to be more like David and held a high regard for the office God has placed us in that a lot of things would change in the church.  It is a privilege to be allowed to serve the Lord in the church.  Our attitude about what we do reflects on our relationship with God.  Regardless of what you have been given to do, do it with all your heart as unto the Lord.  Offer yourself as a living sacrifice unto Him.  Do what you do as an act of worship.  Serving the Lord is such an honor.  When we treat it lightly, the Lord knows and will hold us accountable for it.

And, be sure to express appreciation for your godly leaders and teachers.  Those who represent and serve God well need encouragement.  They need to know that their labors in the Lord are not in vain.  Pray for them often that their hearts will remain humble and pure.  Ask the Lord to bless their ministries with souls saved, edified, and discipled.