HONORING GOD'S SERVANT

Now that you understand the importance of sowing seed, it is imperative that you leverage this principle for maximum results in your life. One area where you should target your seed is into the life of God's servant-your pastor. Some resist this because they do not value the spiritual role that God's servant plays in their lives. The Bible is clear that those who lead churches and serve in ministry capacities are His servants. And they are His gift to you: "And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15 NLT).
When someone, or something, has been given to you, how you treat that gift will send a signal to the giver about your gratitude. Society has sown seeds of doubt about those who serve in pastoral roles and distorted the good work that they have done because of a few bad examples. However, you should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Honoring God's servants is very much biblical and Maximizer's are not intimidated to go against the grain and obey God: "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" (Timothy 5:17-18 NLT).
Those who faithfully serve God and God's people are more than entitled to have those whom they teach give into their lives. Our reading for today supports this. God has no problem with His servants being blessed. And the people whose lives are positively impacted by their ministry should show that gratitude to God by honoring His servants.
An often-quoted Scripture has not been given its full context and,as a result, Believers have missed the powerful principle behind it: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 NKJ). Many quote this and expect to see the manifestation of it in their lives. However, this verse was targeted at Believers who honored God's servant enough to provide for his financial support: "But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me. And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time" (Philippians 4:14-16 AMP).

Paul commended the Philippians for their generosity in supporting him financially. And, because they had obeyed God, Paul was assured that God would provide for all their need. In like manner, because you believe in seed faith giving , when you give to support God's servant, you can expect God to supply all your need! This is not just financial need but all your needs! Giving to support God's servants is a way that God uses to meet your need!
Paul was not manipulating them! He was very clear that there was a principle at work: "I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving" (Philippians 4:17 CEV). Look at that verse in another translation: "Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]" (AMP). God will give you a first-class lifestyle as you support God's servant! It will be supernatural because God gets involved.
It was protocol in the Old Testament that, when a person approached God's servant, he brought a gift. When Saul's donkeys were lost and they could not find them, Saul and his servant sought for God's servant to help them; "Wait! the servant answered. There's a man of God who lives in a town near here. He's amazing! Everything he says comes true. Let's talk to him. Maybe he can tell us where to look. Saul said, How can we talk to the prophet when I don't have anything to give him? We don't even have any bread left in our sacks. What can we give him? I have a small piece of silver, the servant answered. We can give him that, and then he will tell us where to look for the donkeys" (1 Samuel 9:6-8 CEV).
If you grasp this revelation (understanding) of honoring God's servant, you will accelerate your Maximized Life Journey. Honoring God's servant means to give fitting and due respect by remembering that servants of God are called by God and commissioned by God; thus, they are serving vital spiritual role in your life. You should never become common with a servant of God to the point that you devalue the role that God has that person play in your life: "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church; the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT).
Fitting and due recognition is given when you formally honor God's servant. Some churches dedicate a Sunday per year to allow the people an opportunity to recognize the work of God's servant. It is right that God's servant who labors faithfully be recognized. So much is said negatively against preachers. Those who are doing what God has called them to do should be recognized and honored.
You have fitting and due resources by dedicating monetary gifts for God's servants. This may be a formal gift given during times of recognition. Or it may be as God moves on your heart to give at a specific time. Some churches even allow the members to give to God's servant through the Sunday offering envelopes. Whatever the method, it is right to give fitting and due resources to God's servant.
Honor given to God's servant is matter of divine calling, compensation, and care. As you have seen, God calls His servant to perform the work that they do. He also has set the compensation for His servant: " No soldier ever serves in the army and pays his own salary. No one ever plants a vineyard without eating some of the grapes. NO person takes care of a flock without drinking some of the milk. I do not say this by human authority; God's law also says the same thing. It is written in the law of Moses: When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating. When God said this, was he thinking only about oxen? No. He was really talking about us. Yes, that Scripture was written for us, because it goes on to say: "The one who plows and the one who works in the grain should hope to get some of the grain for their work. Since we planted spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we should harvest material things" ( 1 Corinthians 9:7-11 NCV)? And God has set the standard of care.
Having honored God's servant, you can have a justifiable expectation that manifested grace will be on your life. Paul told the Philippians, "They were partakers of his grace" (Philippians 1:7). Every victory that Paul won, every soul that was save through Paul's ministry, every witness Paul gave of the Gospel, they were participants in it. And Paul knew that they could win in every situation because they functioned in the same grace that was on his God's servants; take advantage of this!
You, as a Maximizer, will give to God's servant because it pleases God. The objections of others who do not understand will not detour you. And when you make a natural decision to do something in your life and with your life that glorifies God, you trigger the supernatural power grace of God to bring it to pass. You will never regret your decision to honor God's servants.

Maximized Prayer:
Father, thank You for the gift that You gave to me in my pastor! I will give to Your servant due and fitting respect, recognition, and resources so that I will live a first-class lifestyle. In Jesus name, Amen.

Maximizing Moments:
Write down all the blessings you have received from the ministry in which you are set.

Write down the messages that you have heard that have given you new understanding and strength to make it.

Do something today to honor the servant that God has placed in your life.

Maximizing Mantra:
My pastor is God's gift to me!