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The role of Church leaders is very challenging and a responsible one.  Leaders speak for God to members, directing them to obey Him through their example and teaching.  “The elders who direct the affairs of the church are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17).

For the Israelites, the dignity and privilege of priesthood was entrusted to the Levites.  In Malachi’s days, they fell short of the responsibilities required of the position.  The priests were severely rebuked by God for their casual and careless attitude towards sacrifices.  They were guilty of not setting their hearts to God’s priority.  They did not follow the laws given to their ancestor Levi but instead violated them without any conscience whatsoever.  They showed partiality in matters of law allowing influential and favoured people to break the law (Mal. 2:9).  All their activities were fruitless as they had no divine approval and hence had the effect of leading the Israelites astray into lives of sin.

Fruitlessness must not be allowed to permeate through God’s people as had happened in Malachi’s days of spiritual poverty.  What can we do today to take adequate precaution?  Church leaders play a very important role for this.  The spiritual condition of leaders among God’s people will impact the people they minister to.  Elders and church leaders must know and live God’s Word to lead their people to apply it meaningfully in their daily lives.  Church leaders who take the pulpit, whether to preach the gospel or to teach the Word of God, should be conscious of the solemn responsibility of clearly making known the truth of God.  Church leaders and teachers should be priestly men, committed and passionate for God and also to be diligent in the word of truth (ref. 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:2-4).  It is important for Church members to listen to the teaching of the Bible so that they can obey God and walk in ways pleasing to Him.

In our society of immorality and loose values, Christians face various temptations of compromise in many situations in their lives. The solemn responsibility of Church leaders is to provide wholesome, health-giving ministry and spiritual food necessary to build and beautify Christian character in the people they serve and minister to.  They are called by God to leadership positions in the Church. Their character must reflect this responsibility for their behaviour will influence many.  Church members on their part must obey God and their Church leaders.