CARING FOR SPIRITUAL PARENTS
Memorise: “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? ” (1 Cor 9:11)
Read: 1 Cor 9:7-15
By Pastor Adeboye, RCCG, Nigeria
Another time to sow is when a genuine man of God is in need. Whether he tells you or not, as long as you can perceive the need, or the Holy Spirit prompts you, go ahead and meet it. By so doing, you have ministered not only to that servant of God, but also to Jesus who sent him as well as God the Father who sent Jesus.
Through such a timely seed, you have used one stone to kill three birds. And Jesus says you will get your reward. Your reward will be three pronged- from the Father, from Jesus and from the prophet.
The way some believers treat their pastors and ministers grieves God’s heart. The same pastor who labours in the Word to reveal the keys of blessings to them, and prays and fasts to ensure it is well with them, and even puts his time at their disposal, ends up neglected.
While God is blessing them through the ministry of the pastor, and they are changing cars and buying or building houses, their pastor is living in squalor. If you are being spiritually, materially or financially blessed through the ministry of your pastor and that blessing is not reflected in his life or family, you are undoing your blessings. You may think you are starving your pastor, No.
It is Jesus you are actually depriving and He will respond. If Jesus was physically in your parish, won’t you take the best care of Him in every way possible? He does not expect you to treat your pastor any less because he is standing in for Him.
When the President of a country is invited to a function and he sends a representative, that person is empowered to perform his role. As a result, the respect, entertainment and seat reserved for the president are automatically accorded him.
In 2 Kings 4:8-17, we read of the Shunammite woman who was very wealthy but was barren. She observed Elijah going and coming and knew he was a man of God. He never went to ask her for anything. She knew he would be hungry, and in need of accommodation with furniture so she provided these willingly. She wanted nothing in return. But by her seed she provoked a blessing of a baby boy which her money could not buy.
There are some blessings money cannot buy, yet if you sow the same money or material thing into the life of the man of God, it will release such blessings to you. Arise to your responsibilities today and invest in the life and family of your pastor. If it is well with your pastor, it will be well with you.
Blessing your spiritual parents or pastor is a Gospel right. They may not demand it: But you will put yourself in trouble if you fail to release it to them. Don’t curse your blessing!
Source: E-Open Heavens
