Focus: Be a Blessing to Your Minister

Text: Neh.13:10

"And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field."

Levites are ministers of God who serve in the things of God for the good of God's people. Their roles are crucial to the spiritual wellbeing of the people of God. They serve as Apostles, prophets, Evangelists, pastors and teachers. They labor to bring forth. They bring down heaven into the lives of God's people.

They labor in the Lord's vineyard, and God is their sole inheritance. They are deserving of our moral, material, and financial support at all times. Paul declares, "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1Cor.9:14). The anointing we respect and sow into, shall work for us. They are encouraged and inspired by our love.

There are ministers who are doing this sacred work with their whole being. Material gain is not their interest and their belly is not their god. They have sincerity of purpose and are mindful of eternity. They are in ministry because they are called, appointed and anointed by God for it. They are not in ministry for selfish reasons or for self-aggrandizement. Such people deserve our support in every way possible. It is written that those who give a cup of water to the prophet shall also share in the prophet's reward. Paul says to us, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of DOUBLE HONOUR, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine" (1Tim.5:17).

Our text says that the Levites abandoned their work because they were not cared for. The people held onto their portion and blessings. So they went into farming to fend for themselves while the Lord's work was neglected. It was negligence on the part of the people of God and on the part of the ministers of the gospel.

Bear in mind that we are dealing with the issue of sacred responsibility. God's people have the responsibility of materially supporting their ministers. It is a divine obligation, not a human suggestion or an optional thing. Paul says, "For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their DUTY is also to minister unto them in carnal things" (Rom.15:27). And again, he says, "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" (1Cor.9:11).

Let us understand that our love and loyalty are of great inspiration to them. In Hebrews 13:7,17,24, the writer says, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith FOLLOW, considering the end of their conversation… OBEY them that have the rule over you, and SUBMIT yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you… SALUTE all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints…"

Let us not allow our ministers to desert their place of ministry or to abandon their consecration and slack in their devotion and diligence. Let's support them the best way that we can. By sowing into their lives we are indeed sowing into God. Let's fan their spiritual flame by our prayerful support and generous spirit. Let's not make the work more burdensome for them. Let's ease them of unnecessary pressure and lessen their mental loads. Let's be a blessing to our ministers. The church will be better and healthier for it because there will be fresh anointing flowing from the ministers to us. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter