ESOCS Devotional 9 November 2025 – Double Honour
MEMORY VERSE: ““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
TEXT: 1 TIMOTHY 5:13-25
And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
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In 1 Timothy 5:17–25, Apostle Paul gave special guidance regarding church leadership. He recognized that these individuals were not perfect. But Paul was eager for the church to appreciate and acknowledge the value of pastors, teachers, elders, and other leaders who work hard and serve in a worthy manner: “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). Paul considered ministry leadership an honourable position to hold. Earlier, he told Timothy, “This is a trustworthy saying: ‘If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position’” (1 Timothy 3:1, NLT). The leader who performs the duties of his position responsibly and diligently, according to Scripture, is worthy of double honour.
“Double honor” refers not only to an abundance of respect and obedience from members of the church but also reasonable pay. The Greek word translated “double” in 1 Timothy 5:17 means “two-fold.” And the term for “honor” in the original language includes the notion of a price or compensation. In English, we also connect the word honor with the idea of recompense through the noun honorarium, “a payment for unbilled professional services.” Paul felt that dutiful and diligent shepherds of God’s flock, the church, ought to be honoured in two ways: in proper esteem and fair compensation. Paul’s meaning becomes apparent in his following statement: “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 Tim. 5:18, NLT). The apostle argued that if God in His law had made provision for the hard-working ox (Deut. 25:4), then, members of Christ’s body ought to show proper concern for their spiritual leaders. Paul’s second statement, “The laborer deserves his wages” (ESV), closely resembles these words of Jesus: “For the worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7).
Elsewhere, Paul said, “Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them” (Gal. 6:6, NLT). The Church has an obligation to protect dedicated leaders from being overworked and underpaid. Failure to adequately support them indicates a lack of honor. Paul’s use of “double honor” is probably associated with the “double portion” reserved for the oldest son in a family (Deut. 21:17). The dual benefit of being the firstborn was both respect and financial reward. Paul worked as a tentmaker to support himself in ministry (Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 9:3–18; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8) but considered his position the exception, not the rule.
CHALLENGES
- You should often bless financially and materially those who feed the flock of God with the word of God. God will not forget your of love.
PRAYER POINT
- Father, grant me grace to always celebrate your ministers, so I can be celebrated. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 11:1-End; 13:1-1; 1 Timothy 6:1-10
ESOCS Devotional 9 November 2025
