1 Timothy 5:17-25 - Honoring Elders

It is good to be with you this week. If we have not met yet, my name is Brad. I am one of the teaching pastors here and get the privilege to handle the Word of God with you. It is a bit of a unique week. Here at The Well, we have a value of having the right people in the right places—always encouraging people to figure out who God has made you to be and then serve according to your design, because there is joy there. Along with that, we also believe in having the right voice with the right message.

I was not originally scheduled to teach this week. I had plans for the weekend to be out of town, but the teaching team came to me and said, “We really think you need to teach this one.” I said, “Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is I can be at midweek; the bad news is I can’t be there on Sunday.” They responded, “We think this message needs your voice enough that we should just record the midweek message and play it on Sunday.” So thank you for your grace in putting up with a live midweek message played for our Sunday gathering. My prayer is that your heart will be encouraged as we wrestle with the text.

As the Leader Goes, So Goes the People

The text we are wrestling with is 1 Timothy 5:17 and following. To introduce it, the book of Hosea has an offhand comment in chapter 4, verse 9 that says, “And it will be: like people, like priest.” I remember looking at that and wondering what it meant. In many ways, the people reflect the priesthood. Hosea is saying that as the leader goes, so go the people.

Hosea 4:9 (NASB)

And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.

As we think about that, remember that we are part of a local church together. What that means is that we assemble as the people of God around the gospel. All of us come from various backgrounds and diverse experiences, but we come under the headship of Jesus. Jesus is the one who unites us. We could list things to argue about from now until next week, but when you put Jesus on the list, it puts all of those other things into perspective and puts the gospel on display.

The church is a beautiful picture of unity in Christ. We are new creations; old things have passed away, and new things have come. It doesn’t matter where you have been or where you came from—we are all one in Jesus. We get to celebrate His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, making disciples together. But that universal principle remains true: as the leaders go, so go the people. Therefore, for a local church—which is the hope of the world and God’s redemptive gathering place in a community—it is vital to have solid, biblical elders.

Over the last number of weeks, we have talked about the qualifications for elders, and we even appointed an elder during this series. But this passage is a little different. We aren’t just talking about qualifications; we are talking about what elders actually do.

To understand that, consider two foundational passages. First Peter 5 tells elders to shepherd the flock among them willingly and eagerly, exercising oversight as examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:1-3 (NASB)

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as [your] fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to [the will of] God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

In Acts 20, Paul similarly charges the elders to guard both themselves and the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers.

Acts 20:28 (NASB)

’Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Taking those passages together, we know eldering involves shepherding and spiritual oversight. But what does that practically look like here at The Well?

Behind the Scenes: The Work of Eldership

Our elders serve behind the scenes in ways that most people never see. You could almost compare the elders to internal organs in your body: they are working, you are thankful they are working, and you don’t even think about them while they’re functioning well. But if you notice them, it usually means there is a problem.

First, our elders set the direction for The Well. Every January, we initiate a planning process where our elders spend a day away. We come prayed up and prepped up, discussing the church: Where are we going? What are the concerns? Where is culture heading, and how do we head it off at the pass? For example, one issue from a recent retreat was the cultural confusion around gender and sexuality. Our elders said, “We need to drop a plumb line of God’s Word graciously, because God’s Word is clear even when the cultural confusion is difficult. How do we help people know what God has said with true compassion?” That elder retreat then triggers a process where the lead team builds strategic initiatives and directives to bring back to the elders for affirmation. We have followed this exact rhythm every single year since 2004.

Second, our elders oversee our care and correction process—what some call church discipline. We prefer “care and correction” because it aligns with our core values of being biblical, authentic, and restorative. When you combine Matthew 18 and Galatians 6, you get a process for walking with a brother or sister who falls into sin. Discipleship happens in those moments when blind spots are revealed. Often, a sin issue is addressed, a person repents, and praise God, your brother or sister is restored to the body.

However, when someone in spiritual influence hardens their heart to correction, it moves to elder correction. As an elder, I made phone calls this week to lovingly say, “These pastors and leaders have been walking with you, and you have been hardened to their admonishment. As an elder, I want you to know they aren’t crazy. We agree with them, and we want to call you to repentance.”

Our elders deal with serious situations: cases of adultery, allegations of abuse where child safety must be secured immediately, marital abandonment, domestic abuse, child protective services cases, restraining orders, and sexual assault accusations. We work diligently to protect the vulnerable, discern truth, coordinate with law enforcement when necessary, and provide safe environments for worship. You don’t see most of this because it isn’t meant to be public. In elementary school, if you never met the principal, that was a good thing because you didn’t get sent to the principal’s office when things were going well. In rare instances where an individual remains in open, unrepentant defiance, it moves to active discipline, where we must tell them they cannot worship here because our responsibility is to protect the flock.

Third, our elders provide clear leadership. I have never appreciated our elders more than over the past two years during COVID-19. There were endless difficult decisions to make. If we closed gatherings, people said we didn’t love Jesus. If we reopened, people said we didn’t love people and wanted the vulnerable to get sick. When we saw our students spiraling into isolation and depression, our elders made the courageous call to reopen our youth and recovery ministries early. Leadership means taking the hits, and our elders led faithfully.

Finally, our elders oversee our finances, determine staff compensation, manage operational and ministry budgets, oversee facility development, and guard our adherence to the mission of helping people connect to God and each other in every neighborhood.

Double Honor and Singular Focus

With that backdrop, look at verse 17:

1 Timothy 5:17 (NASB)

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

To “rule well” means to lead, engage, and manage well. Paul writes that elders who do so are worthy of “double honor.” In the original language, honor includes the idea of compensation—compensating someone for special service.

Being worthy of honor does not mean demanding it. On our elder team, every man except one has a secular career or is retired. They volunteer their time and provide for their families outside the church. However, recognizing the vital importance of guarding sound doctrine, our elders hired a teaching elder to oversee the primary teaching function and lead the staff. That is my role. I am the only compensated elder on the board, but I do not run the board. We function in plurality. We seek the Lord and move together as one.

Why compensate an elder to teach? Because sound preaching and teaching require singular focus. If a leader is bivocational, squeezing in study time late at night or early in the morning, the depth of study and doctrinal care can suffer over time. Compensating a teaching elder gives them the freedom to study, read, research, and wrestle with the text.

Paul supports this in verse 18 by quoting the Old Testament:

1 Timothy 5:18 (NASB)

For the Scripture says, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’

Deuteronomy 25:4 (NASB)

’You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.

Paul makes this same argument in 1 Corinthians 9, explaining that God commanded that an ox not be muzzled while threshing for our benefit, establishing that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living from the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:9-11 (NASB)

For it is written in the Law of Moses, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.’ God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher [to thresh] in hope of sharing [the crops]. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

Jesus affirmed this principle as well when He stated that the worker is worthy of his wages.

Matthew 10:10 (NASB)

or a bag for [your] journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

Whenever you talk about pastors and money, people get cynical because of horror stories in the news or social media accounts mocking lavish lifestyles. That is not what happens here. Our elders set staff compensation based on healthy national averages. About 50 to 55 percent of our general budget goes to staff, which is a healthy benchmark for ministry effectiveness. The goal is simply to free leaders to have singular focus to handle the Word of God accurately and equip the saints.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 (NASB)

preach the word; be ready in season [and] out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but [wanting] to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Accountability and Discernment

Because leadership carries weight, leaders are vulnerable to criticism and false accusations. Paul addresses this directly in verse 19:

1 Timothy 5:19 (NASB)

Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

Paul is pulling straight from Deuteronomy 19, which requires two or three witnesses to establish an accusation.

Deuteronomy 19:15 (NASB)

’A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.

This does not mean elders are unapproachable or beyond critique. We live confessionally; we are works in progress who are reading our Bibles and letting our Bibles read us. But to protect leaders from malicious gossip, accusations regarding character must be substantiated by multiple witnesses.

If an elder does persist in sin, Paul gives clear instructions in verse 20:

1 Timothy 5:20 (NASB)

Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful [of sinning].

Our rule of thumb is that the more public the role, the more public the removal. If an elder is found in persistent sin, they must be publicly rebuked so that the whole church maintains a healthy, holy reverence for God’s standards.

Paul adds a solemn charge regarding how these matters must be handled:

1 Timothy 5:21 (NASB)

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of [His] chosen angels, to maintain these [principles] without bias, doing nothing in a [spirit of] partiality.

There must be no favoritism or partiality. It does not matter what an elder’s name is, how long he has attended, or how much money he gives. Leadership is based on character, not status.

Because of the severity of this calling, Paul warns Timothy to be slow and cautious in appointing leaders:

1 Timothy 5:22 (NASB)

Do not lay hands upon anyone [too] hastily and thereby share [responsibility for] the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily. Godliness in a single moment means very little; godliness sustained over time means everything.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 (NASB)

The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their [sins] follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

You can put on a good face for a season, but time is the great revealer. Character will eventually show itself.

Caring for the Leaders

Paul then inserts a personal note in verse 23 that almost seems out of place:

1 Timothy 5:23 (NASB)

No longer drink water [exclusively], but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Timothy was facing frequent physical ailments and stomach issues. Eldership and leadership are heavy; it is enough to give you an ulcer. Paul tells Timothy to practice wisdom and self-care. There are no awards given in the kingdom of God for completely burning yourself out. If you are spiritually, emotionally, or physically depleted, you cannot serve the body well. One of the greatest gifts you can give to the Lord, your family, your life group, and your ministry is a healthy you.

How We Respond

How do we apply this passage as a church body?

First, respect your elders. Hebrews 13:17 reminds us that leaders keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. You may not always agree with every decision, but respect the men God has placed in leadership to shepherd this church.

Hebrews 13:17 (NASB)

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Second, encourage those who teach and preach. Galatians 6:6 says that the one who is taught the Word should share good things with the teacher. Whether it is your life group leader, a student ministry teacher, or a pastor, take time to encourage those who labor in the Scriptures.

Galatians 6:6 (NASB)

The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches [him].

Third, pray for those in spiritual authority. Pray for our elders and leaders to have the mind of Christ, to exercise wisdom, and to lead with humility and courage.

Finally, let us remain steadfast and committed to the mission. First Corinthians 15:58 tells us to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not [in] vain in the Lord.

The structure is in place, the elders are serving faithfully, the staff is set, and the mission is clear. We have a city that needs Jesus. We have neighbors far from God who need hope, and students who need someone to point them to Christ. Let’s be about the work God has called us to do.

Let’s pray.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being part of a local church body. Thank You for Your grace over this church for over twenty years. Thank You for our elders—men who seek Your will, speak the truth in love, and hold fast to Your Word. As our leaders pursue You, give our entire church body grace, courage, and wisdom to step out, take risks, and reach our city with the hope of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, amen.