Together in Christ: 'Respected and Compensated!' — 1 Timothy 5:17-18

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"
— 1 Timothy 5:17-18 NLT

Key Thought

The apostle Paul avoided requesting financial support from churches by working with his hands to be self-supporting. [1] However, he made clear in our passage today that "those who work hard" in ministry should be respected for their hard work and should be supported financially.

We know that no human leader is perfect. They each have flaws and fallibilities. So, as followers, we can always find things in a leader to criticize if we choose to do so. However, in a culture that accentuates and criticizes the faults of others, we need to be people who catch others - especially our spiritual leaders - doing what is right, good, godly, and helpful. We need to affirm them in their love for God and His people. We need to rejoice in their hard work for the Lord. Valuing others, especially our leaders, must be a high priority for us as we live for Jesus!

[1] Acts 20:32-35; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9. Paul was a leather worker who made tents and probably also saddles. He advocated working with our hands to support our ministry efforts. Paul's practice gave birth to the term "tent-maker" and became an informal title for self-supporting ministers and missionaries - Acts 18:1-3; 1 Corinthians 4:12; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. Although Paul didn't request support from churches where he was ministering, he did accept support, even from churches in other cities from where he was ministering (2 Corinthians 11:8-9).

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, thank You for gifting some to be leaders in Jesus' church. Thank You especially for those who use those gifts to help us serve You effectively and function as the bodily presence of Jesus in our world. Forgive us for our past criticisms and fault-finding in our leaders. Please protect them from attack. Bring others close to hold them accountable and use me to affirm, honor, and build them up. Thank You for our godly Christian leaders. We ask for the reclamation and forgiveness of those leaders who have gone astray. We pray all this in the name of the greatest leader of all time, Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Supporting Those Who Serve
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, The support of those who work for Me as their calling and vocation has always been a touchy issue among some of My people. Paul ran into..."
More than Moral Instructions
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, Today's verses again come from Paul's instructions to Timothy and Titus. At first glance, they appear to be nothing more than a list of...."
Caring Hearts, Working Hands
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, Help me treat everyone in your family appropriately and with great respect: older men like fathers, older women like mothers, younger..."

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Timothy 5:17-18 NLT — Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, July 31, 2025

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Silencing Your Enemies' (Ps. 8:2)
"[O Lord, our Lord] You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Psalms 31:5
"These words have been frequently used by holy men in their hour of departure. We may profitably consider them this evening. The object of the faithful..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Escaping Evil, Embracing Truth' (2 Ti. 2:22-26)
"Dear Father, Help me to escape evil passions and to aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with all who call upon the Lord from a pure....."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by W. T. Richardson:
"The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration. A saint is not a man without faults, but a man who has given himself without reserve to God."

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Together in Christ