QT 6 Jul 16, 1 Tim 5:17, In the church of Christ, leadership is taking responsibility to lead

1 Tim 5:17 (ESV) Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

NOTE: In the NT, Jesus clearly taught the importance of servant leadership, and so the use of the word "rule" seems out of place. The Greek suggests that rule means "put oneself (responsibly) at the head." Rather than the idea of ruling over others, it is more the idea of taking responsibility to lead. Just because someone leads, does not make them a ruler in the world's sense of a ruler. Jesus led the disciples and he was the one who washed their feet. Leadership in the church should follow the example of Jesus and not the practice in the world. In context, double honor suggest pay. We should pay our elders, especially those who preach and teach, more than those who do not. And to an extent, we follow this practice. Although, we do seem to forget that the Pastor is one of many elders, and the responsibility for leading should fall upon the group and not upon one individual. Lord, as I move back into a shepherding and teaching role, help me fit into the body and serve the body. I pray to see a disciplemaking culture develop within our church that would become a model for other churches.