| "If any man speak, let him Speak As The Oracles of God..." (I Peter 4:11) |
| Holding Up the Preacher's Hands |
| by Walter W. Pigg When Amalek fought with Israel in Rephidim, Moses fold Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalek. Moses said he would stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. While Joshua carried out his orders and fought with Amalek, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. During the battle, when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed. "But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands tuere steady until the going down of the sun" (Exodus 17:12). Moses' hands being held up resulted in victory. "And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword" (Exodus 17:13). The expression to "hold up one's hands" has come to mean support, encouragement, and cooperation with one in a particular endeavor. It is in this sense that we set forth the following relative to Holding Up The Preacher's Hands. There is no question but that there is no more important work than that of a gospel preacher, as he proclaims the "unsearchab/e riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8), the gospel, which is "God's power unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). Paul shows the essentiality of preaching when he asks: "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). Paul quotes Isaiah to emphasize the preacher's noble work, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things" (Romans 10:15). If the faithful and true gospel preacher is to accomplish the greatest good through his divine calling, his hands must be held up, yea, even "steadied" until the "going down of the sun" when his work is ended. When the preacher's hands are not held up, his work is hindered; individual Christians are affected, and congregations fail to serve their Godgiven purpose of edifying the members and seeking the lost. The harm that is done cannot be measured in terms of material things, since even one soul is worth more than all the world (Matthew 16:26). Before we consider some ways whereby the preacher's hands can be held up, we wish to emphasize the fact that not every preacher's hands should be held up, and some hands cannot be held up because it involves the preacher's willingness. We certainly do not wish to minimize the preacher's responsibility in this respect. Only preachers who are so dedicated that they are "set for the defense of the gospel" (Philippians 1:17), and willing to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3) are worthy of having their hands held up by way of support and encouragement. Those who "transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ" (II John 9) do not lead people to God and the salvation which is "in Christ." "Many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1) and none of these should have his hands held up. Some preachers hands cannot be held up because their heart is not in preaching the word. Recently, I heard of a preacher of several years, and of considerable ability, leaving the pulpit to cut wood for a living. Some time ago, another preacher of several years came by my office — not to discuss spiritual things, but to sell insurance. He had left the pulpit for secular work. Of course, some preachers have given up their work due to things beyond their control, while others are not characterized by Paul's devotion to the gospel as expressed in I Corinthians 9:16: "For necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." HOW THE PREACHER'S HANDS MAY BE HELD UP 1. RESPECT HIM FOR HIS WORK. No preacher should be exalted as is done by wearing religious titles such as "Reverend," "Most Reverend," "Father," etc. Neither should a preacher manifest an ostentatious disposition of proudness and haughtiness. But the faithful preacher of the gospel should be esteemed for his work. There is no one, regardless of his wealth, education, notoriety, or political influence that is doing a more important work than that of the preacher. Yet gospel preachers are sometimes looked down upon by the haughty and proud with evident disrespect. Most preachers of many years can testify to this. 2. STAND BY HIM IN THE PROCLAMATION OF THE TRUTH. When the whole truth is preached without fear or favor, there will be some opposition. It is most encouraging to a preacher to know that others love the truth and are willing to uphold and defend it, and stand by the proclaimer of it. What an opportunity Godly elders have to hold up the hands of the preacher by letting the congregation know, quite often, that they stand by the preacher when he preaches the truth. Disgruntled, cantankerous, and compromising members should never be allowed to interfere with the preacher's work by allowing them to have their way simply because brethren do not have the fortitude to stand up to such people. 3. GIVE HIM EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH THE WORD. The primary work of a preacher is to "preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (II Timothy 4:2). When there is such a great need for the truth (sound doctrine) to be preached, it is discouraging to the faithful preacher to be kept "at home" when he has opportunities to preach in other places as well. A soul won or strengthened in the faith at some other place is also doing the Lord's work. We shouldn't be selfish with the truth! 4. EXTEND TO HIM HOSPITALITY. It is not unusual for a preacher not to be invited into the homes of the members. Preachers may be expected to be hospitable by those who are inhospitable. A few years ago I attended a personal work study conducted by a visiting preacher at a congregation several miles from where I lived. The visiting preacher had his eight year old son with him. As I talked with the preacher (nearly all the members had gone home) his son asked: "Daddy, where are we going to stay tonight?" His dad answered, "We may sleep in the station wagon." They were invited to our house where my wife and I enjoyed their company greatly. When a congregation's hospitality stops on the church grounds, the preacher's hands are not being held up! 5. SUPPORT HIM IN A REASONABLE WAY FINANCIALLY. There is too much truth too often in the statement that "A preacher only has to worry about being humble, the brethren will keep him poor." Though the faithful preacher cannot put his trust in "treasures upon earth" (as members often do), he is entitled to "live of the gospel" (I Corinthians 9:14). Not only do preachers have living expenses like everyone else, it is often the case that their expenses are greater than the average member. Preachers often live with a feeling of insecurity since they do not have a house of their own, and may have to move without much advance notice. Few preachers have the "side benefits" such as health insurance, retirement, overtime pay, or long paid vacations that many workers have today. 6. CONSIDER HIM A WORKER "WITH YOU" AND NOT "FOR YOU." The preacher and the congregation should be "laborers together" as they go about doing the Lord's will. No preacher is encouraged when he is looked upon simply as a "hired hand" to do the congregation's work. In some cases he may have several "bosses" to whom they feel he should be accountable. No one preacher can do the work a congregation has to do, and even if he could, the members would lose their reward for having failed to serve. 7. DON'T BURDEN HIM WITH TRIVIAL MATTERS. Many a preacher has been hindered in his work because he has been saddled with all sorts of jobs which should be done by the members who often do little more than attend church services. The preacher should not be asked to "leave the word of God, and serve tables" (Acts 6: 2) but he is often made a "handy man" to take care of the upkeep of the church building and grounds, along with no telling what else. Visiting the sick is not a "trivial matter," and the preacher should certainly engage in this as opportunity permits, but he is not the "hired visitor" to do the visiting that others should do. CONCLUSION The preacher's work is not easy and few are they who are willing to give themselves to that work. But his work could be made more enjoyable, and effective, by his hands being held up by the members. |
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