I hate it when I get to the end of a really good book. That’s the way I feel now at the end of I Thessalonians, a section titled in my Bible as “Final Instructions.” Paul’s letter to his young converts is winding down. After everything he has told them about their character, example, and the coming of the LORD, he has just a few final instructions.

“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.  Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.” [I Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT]

I loved to watch MASH with Hawkeye, Trapper, BJ, Colonel Potter, and Radar. My favorite character was Father Francis Mulcahy. I remember a conversation he had with Hawkeye once. He said that when Hawkeye lost a patient, he lost a life, but when he, Father Mulcahy, lost a patient, he lost a soul.

To have souls placed in your trust by God is one of the most awesome, fearsome tasks given to a person. While every person is responsible for his/her own soul, a minister is given the responsibility to handle God’s word and equip His Church.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-12, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” [NLT]

Paul tells his young converts that because of that charge they are to respect and hold in highest regard those God has called to that task, which, along with prayer, is exactly what we should be doing every day also.