What does the Bible say about appreciation for pastors? How should we honor and show our appreciation for our pastor? The Christian life isn’t all about learning what to say but also how to say it.
Bible Verses about Appreciation for Pastors
Appreciation for pastors is one of the greatest gifts a church can offer, and it demonstrates not only your appreciation for these men and women but your willingness to serve.
This article explores 23 Bible verses about appreciation for pastors that highlight the importance of this role in the lives of those who serve God.
Hebrews 13:17 – God encourages believers to respect and submit to their leaders.
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.Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)
God encourages believers to respect and submit to their leaders, whether pastors or not, for all leaders are appointed by God, whether good or terrible. So as believers, we are to love and respect them so that we can have their blessings.
Pastors are also seen as human, but in its spiritual sense, God has appointed them to shepherd us spiritually and guide us, teaching us the Truth about God. They must be treated with respect, love, and care, which will help and give them an edge spiritually.
Jeremiah 3:15 – Treatment of prophets.
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV)
God has promised to give his children a pastor who is to be understood as not political rulers but ministers of the word of God. He will provide us with pastors according to His heart; the pastor here can be either an evangelist, prophet or anyone with the spirit of God in them to guide and direct God’s word.
And they shall work and act according to God’s own heart; they shall be of His choosing and shall be qualified by himself: and in all, they shall feed the people with knowledge of the Truth and Divine understanding concerning the true God and His word for the best interests of man, which is essentially necessary to our salvation.
1 Timothy 5:17 – Honor and respect those elders we find worthy.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.1 Timothy 5:17 (KJV)
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 – Be encouraging to leaders.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (KJV)
Church leaders are to be recognized and respected from all angles; they are to be esteemed with great love not by words but by giving because of their work and devotion towards the dish.2 Timothy 4:2 – Spreading God’s word should only be done for the right reasons.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)
Hebrews 13:7 Respect men who have been given the responsibility of leading you.
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.Hebrews 13:7 (KJV)
1 Corinthians 9:14 – Those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living from it.
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.1 Corinthians 9:14 (KJV)
1 Thessalonians 1:3 – Your labor will be remembered.
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;1 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV)
Romans 10:14 – They are to guide and instruct the church on the word of God.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?Romans 10:14 (KJV)
Psalm 37:23 – God orders the step of a righteous man.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.Psalm 37:23 (KJV)
The Lord is in control of the life of a righteous man, and the Lord delights in his life course. Indeed, a righteous person may stumble and even fall, but the Lord will protect him from all the snare of the evil one; we are to understand that our goodness guarantees God’s protection over our lives.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;Ephesians 4:11 (KJV)
Many of the problems the church faces today result from people failing to understand their calling in ministry. Many people seek the pulpit to amass wealth, but this is not true of the Gospel of Christ.
Many are called to various ministries to bring humankind closer to God and better understand the word. And there are several ministries listed in the scripture, including the apostleship ministry, the prophetic ministry, the evangelistic ministry, the pastorate, and the teaching ministry, all of which serve the same function.
Isaiah 55:4 – Leaders are guides placed by God.
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the peopleIsaiah 55:4 (KJV)
As followers of Jesus, we can safely submit to His leadership and commands, knowing He is the manifestation of a divine covenant of love.
That love kept Him from succumbing to the enemy’s temptations while on earth, that love that set the example for how we are to conduct ourselves as His followers, that love brought Him willingly to the cross on our behalf.
Bible Verses to Honor Pastors
Pastors often get a lot of flack in today’s society, and people don’t appreciate the hard work that many pastors put in.
Our pastors deserve our respect and attention, so here are a few Bible verses to honor pastors. It helps us remember their hard work and dedication, which we can all be grateful for.
Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
This is the desire of God for His children; His plan is always perfect for His children and those who call upon Him in humility and brokenness; God is our protector and our defender, and God guides and protects us in our everyday activities.
God had placed men to pronounce this word of blessings upon our life and the ability to hear God’s word and to deliver those words to His people.
God has placed pastors, prophets, evangelists, and apostles in the position to pronounce blessings upon us. And our primary duty is to love and respect them.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
We as believers should not take the scriptures out of context nor twist them to say what we would like them to say or even think it says! The Word of God is one unified whole that unveils God’s unchanging nature and character and the devastating effects of sin.
The Word of God is to be the focus of our study, not the wise philosophies or limited scope of mortal man’s understanding, but the God-breathed Scripture, which is His inerrant Word of Truth. Through studying His Word, we should try to discover the beautiful gems of wisdom within its passage.
Christians are to do their best to present themselves to God by studying and meditating on the word of God; Christians are to correctly learn and teach all that has been revealed to man in God’s Word and to interpret the Scriptures correctly.
Thessalonians 5:12-13
“And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders, who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love”
Thessalonians 5:12-13
Pastors are ordinary human beings with limited energy, time, and strength. They often have wives and children that also need their attention and love. Pastors also need time for rest and recreation; they have down days and challenges to their faith, just as you and I do.
Discouragement can come when a pastor faces unrealistic expectations or verbal discouragement from the people he serves. We believers should try to encourage them in prayers and not gossip about our pastors, just as we need and expect that support from them.
Jeremiah 3:15
“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Jeremiah 3:15
God chose priests to watch over us and protect us from all danger, naturally and spiritually. God gave them the wisdom to help us combat anything that may hinder our walk with Him (Our Creator). Sheep are known to respond to the voice of their shepherd.
They understand that the shepherd will never bring them harm and that the provided guidance keeps them safe and moving forward to new pastures. Believers are to honor their leader by listening and obeying their authority, for they do not speak of their voice but of the one who sent them (God).
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7
Pastors are some of the most wonderful people on the planet. They give of themselves sacrificially, often asking nothing in return. They point us to God. Pastors pray with us in our times of need.
Pastors counsel us through life’s challenges and help us to confront our fears. We look up to them and try to model their behavior. This call for us believers to love, honor, and sacrifice for them, too; this will give them more strength knowing their gift is appreciated by his followers.
Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:2
Most things that make believers miss their blessings are sometimes the act of disrespecting their pastors because of material things; this scripture is telling us, believers, to set our minds on things above; we should always look and care for the spiritual life of the pastor and not the material things of the world.
Most Pastors often get sidetracked with building projects, winning converts, writing best-sellers, and making a name for their ministry. They turn into life coaches instead of shepherds and servants.
When we take our eyes off Jesus, we lose focus and replace Him with something else. Nothing should ever take the place of the mandate by which we were first called. To spread the Gospel. To feed the hungry. To clothe the poor.
John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
It all starts with love. A pastor sent by God also needs love from his followers, which will help him stay faithful to God’s word. God is love, and anyone who loves is of God, so without love, we have nothing.
Where there’s love, respect, honor, and care exist. This scripture states that others should know that you are His disciple by how you love others. This is a simple yet complex passage to follow because the world around us continues to try to divide us.
There is no love when there is division, there is no love in fear, but perfect love casts out all fear. This is the love we need to strive to emulate, a great love that can only come from a perfect God.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
As believers of God’s word, honoring your pastor is honoring God because God placed them there to lead and guide us on His word.
Most of the pastors given to us might not be strong in our physical eyes, but we should always understand as believers that God knows what’s best for us, and we should always lean on His word, not our understanding.
Another thing is that leadership is all about making big decisions while leading others. We should always believe and trust in the leader God assigned to us and pray for God’s guidance toward their life and family.
Galatians 6:9
” And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
Today it’s more acceptable to be relevant than to speak the Truth. Pastors face challenges in growing their ministry and taking the church to greater heights.
In the circumstances like this, they need the support of the members; this will help them stay true to the word and not look elsewhere for support and try to please people with God’s word to get their approval.
By remaining steadfast and honoring God’s servant by supporting him, God’s blessing will be upon you.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thought, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
We are to understand that God’s plans aren’t like ours; without God wanting us to understand His plans, no matter how we try, we’ll still be left in the dark about His plans for our lives and others.
One thing is always sure His goal for us is always a good and a better one that will lead to the right path.
God has the ultimate perspective and plan. We can always trust Him to lead us in the right direction and path. You should never lead without God’s guidance, and we will never be more intelligent than he is.
God is the ultimate problem solver. Lean on Him when you seek wisdom and answers to the things that seem hard or impossible.
