CEB BLOG - Pastor appreciation month

Don’t Spend a Dime on Your Pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month! 

Just kidding, of course you should honor him as you feel led! God commands those who are taught in His Word to “communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things” (Galatians 6:6). Elsewhere, Paul reminded Timothy that elders who rule well in the church, especially in the gifts of teaching and preaching, should be considered worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17).  

God’s people have shown themselves to be very creative when it comes to demonstrating their love, honor and appreciation for their pastors. During the month of October, which is Clergy Appreciation Month, take advantage of the opportunity to show your pastor how thankful you are for his spiritual leadership. 

Just remember, your pastor is serving you in response to God’s calling in his life, whether or not your church sees fit to honor him with material blessings. He is committed to seeing God move in the lives of the flock, first and foremost. Faithful, God-called pastors rarely seek material gain, but would give up everything to see souls saved from hell. When your pastor watches God transform lives by the power of the gospel he preaches, he feels blessed in ways that infinitely outweigh the blessing of a gift card to his favorite restaurant. 

The best gift you could give your pastor this October is the gift of a godly life. Go ahead and purchase a tangible expression of gratitude for him, but realize that, for the other eleven months out of the year, he is far more interested in how you: 

1. Desire holiness over personal comfort.  

 
Your pastor often hears complaints from church-goers based on personal preferences. Those who have committed to holiness do not typically say very much, on the other hand. The next time you are tempted to complain to your pastor, pause to consider how you may demonstrate holiness and encourage him instead. 

1. Spontaneously serve others inside and outside the church.  

 
Many pastors and their families end up doing a lot of the work of ministry. This is leadership by example, but if you see your pastor and his family doing most of the work, seek ways to help. Pastors receive great encouragement when the members of their flock step up and serve others without being told to do so. 

1. Make disciples of Jesus Christ.  

 
This is the missionary heartbeat of every church and the goal of every pastor: to see members win souls for Christ. Pastors love leading people to Jesus, but when church members evangelize out of obedience to the preaching and teaching of God’s word and take it upon themselves to disciple others, your pastor may just start shoutin’ for joy. 

So, go buy your pastor a gift card to his favorite restaurant and write him a note expressing how thankful you are to God for his spiritual leadership. But remember your pastor is far more interested in your spiritual growth than in how well you show your appreciation to him. Your pastor is thankful for your show of appreciation, but he would probably also like to exclaim to you, as Paul exclaimed to the church in Thessalonica, “Ye are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:20).