14/07/2019 - MESSAGE TO THE ELDERS

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The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 1 Peter 5:1

Peter’s message was addressed to the elders – shepherds of the Lord’s flock. They take care of the churches members, but the parents also fit in this group, for their duty is to guide the children, care for them, exhort and correct them when necessary, so they don´t deviate from the Word. The pastor is a mixture of father and pastor, true servant of the Most High.

The pastor cannot forget the commitment the eternal God gave him: watch over the Lord´s inheritance. The church reflects the kind of care it receives from those who lead it. In this group we also find teachers, who must dedicate themselves to form good citizens, for, in addition to formal education, they must reflect the example of a good citizen, so that we can have better days.

Likewise, entrepreneurs have to work with their employees, giving them the example of a winner, as well as assisting them in times of crisis, since such employees help them enrich themselves. Whoever does not help the needy will be accountable to God. We are to do good to all people, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Jesus said that in doing these things we are doing it to Him (Matthew 25:40).

An example of a good entrepreneur can be seen in Boaz. He married Ruth the Moabite who carried on with her mother in law Naomi, when she returned to Bethlehem after living in Moab and losing her husband and two sons (Ruth 1). Ruth saw him come and salute his servants, saying, The LORD be with you (Ruth 2: 4). It showed how close to God that man was. He behaved as a pastor to those who served him on the farm.

In response to his way of treating the servants, Boaz heard: The Lord bless you. If, today, employers were like pastors of those who work for them, they would also hear from their collaborators a similar response for their good deeds. Certainly, the labor demands would cease, for they would be satisfied. When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, all things are made new to us, even the way we treat employees. So why not treat them fairly?

Job gave the best to his children, but he did not neglect the spiritual aspect. When they participated in a feast, he stood before the Most High and asked that they be forgiven if they exaggerated and sinned. Take care of your children with true love, for they are the Lord´s inheritance and were entrusted to you to be raised with excellence. This matter is so important that the heavenly Father forbade access to the ministry to those who did not take good care of their children.

Peter spoke about the glory that will be revealed, of which we already participate. That is beyond what we can think or ask for. This glory is the same as that which envelops our God; therefore we must do His will so that one day we may enjoy such beauty and power.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares