“CLERGY SPOUSE APPRECIATION”

CLERGY SPOUSE APPRECIATION

Monday, April 25th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

“A godly wife is priceless. Her husband has every reason to have complete confidence in her as his partner because each day she brings him good and not harm. With her hands she makes beautiful things. She works diligently for the good of her husband and family. In the community she is known for her kindness and wisdom. She handles money well and is very capable in business. She is able to initiate great projects and lead others well. Her arms and her heart are open to the poor and needy and she does not neglect her own family. She is strong, elegant, and happy. In all that she says and does she brings honor to the Lord.”

- Paraphrased from Proverbs 31:10-31

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

– Ephesians 5:21-33

4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) – 1 Timothy 3:4-5

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

I had no idea that March was clergy “spouse” appreciation month. I’ve been in full time ministry for over twenty years and didn’t even know something like that existed. I am aware that pastor’s appreciation month is in October, but this was new to us. Recently, both of the churches where I serve wanted to recognize my wife for her support, presence, and ministry. They brought her forward in the congregation in Sunday morning worship during prayer time and showered her with gifts of love. She was moved to tears to say the least.

I understand that for clergy who are married, that not all clergy spouses are the same. Not all support their spouse’s call to ministry. Not all are active in the church. Not all serve in the church. And some, have even been hurt and turned off by church politics and behind the scenes “stuff”. Lord knows it takes great sacrifice to serve in such a role as pastor, let alone as a clergy spouse. However, the blessings of serving an Almighty God and King are too numerous to count.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

For those of you who are married, be encouraged to give God thanks for your spouse. I trust that they too have made great sacrifices as a clergy spouse.

Sometime this week, be encouraged to share and show thanks to your spouse for their support of you and your call to pastoral ministry. Show them thanks with a “love language” they can relate to. Verbally share words of appreciation with them too. I trust it will go a long way. None of us would be the great pastors we all are without the support of our spouses. Pray for your spouse and give God thanks for them. Pray for your children too and give God thanks for the blessing of such a gift.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank you for the glorious and amazing call upon my life to serve You as pastor. And in so doing, help me not to forget the blessing of my spouse and even my own family. Remind me to put them first as I make You a priority in my own life. May I set an example of faith and practice to my own family as I strive to do the same within the congregations You have called me to serve. Strengthen my marriage. Strengthen my relationship with my kids. Be glorified in my life and all that You have called me to. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus, the Resurrected Christ. – Amen

RESOURCE & APPLICATION:

• The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman

• Schedule a da night THIS WEEK with your spouse to show your love and appreciation for their support of you in ministry.

• For those of you who are single or even empty-nesters, lift up prayers for your married colleagues. Perhaps even offer to watch their children (if they have any) so that they can break away for a much-needed date night.