Double Honor

1 Tim. 5:17-18 (ESV)
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. [18] For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."
Pastors are to be considered worthy of double honor. I can only assume that Paul is admonishing Timothy to teach congregations concerning this. In some circles clergy have a stigma attached to them. People who have no idea what a pastor does, despise the pastors as being lazy. The whole 1 hour a week myth prevails. This whole epistle seems to be about establishing the authority and honor that should be bestowed on this office.
Paul here also addresses the issue of pay. Churches dishonor their pastors when they don’t pay them what they deserve. This should be the awareness of all in the congregation. It should not fall as it often does on one or two people to supply the salary of the pastor either. But if you honor your pastor pay your pastor. There is a syndrome happening in many circles that think it is somehow a great thing that their pastor is not paid by the congregation. It isn’t just Mormons. The “worker priest” is becoming more and more the norm. Our synod is increasingly relying on them to start missions. This is really a shame. We need to come up with a better way. Neither the missionary, nor the pastor should have to make a living flipping hamburgers during the week. Being a pastor, and an effective Missionary takes up a lot of time and energy, it should not be hampered by a part time job. Nor should a pastor be despised for taking a wage.