A Pastor's Character, Family, and Community Respect

QUESTION RECEIVED:

Isn't there a Scripture that says a pastor or a father should see to the needs of his own family before meeting the needs of others?


MY ANSWER:

This is one of the New Testament passages that deals with the qualifications of overseer(pastor). These verses deal with the overseer's character, family life, and relationship with the community.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)
* Qualifications for Overseers (PASTORS)

"1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."

This description of the overseer's character, family and community relations is to help in the best way to promote the gospel, and to protect the servant of God. If the pastor has good character his gospel witness will be thought of as true. The man will not have character issues that cause him to sin greatly and hurt the gospel message.

You asked about a pastor meeting his families needs. Yes. The man must provide spiritual leadership, fatherhood, love, and physically with food and shelter and care for his family.

I pray you are supporting your pastor financially so he can provide for his family
and be a minister of the gospel. Please do not use this Scripture as a loaded gun to blast the overseer of your church. Most pastors are husbands and fathers.
They need support emotionally, spiritually and financially. Are you and your church supporting financially the pastor and supporting their needs? This allows the pastor and have a cared for family. He then can do his duty at home and in his ministry.

Is your husband or father a pastor?. Let them know, relative or not, how much you appreciate their calling.

If you feel your pastor (a relation or not) is falling short, please do not use this passage as a shotgun blast of self vengeance to his guts and heart to cause damage.
Pastor's are often under unfounded attacks for non-biblical reasons. Lovingly go to him. Pray with him. Share how you would like to help him be the best pastor, husband and father possible. Sometimes people have assaulted a pastor with this passage when a young adult in the pastor's family goes astray. He can discipline a child. Adult children make their own decisions like all of us do. The pastor can do his duty at home and adult family members can stray from the faith just like any church members. Look at the man of God from his work over time. This whole picture reveals his character. Even the non-believers in the community will celebrate a pastor with character. A man that is a husband, father and pastor - PRAY FOR HIM!