Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. - 1 Timothy 4:13
Paul's first letter to Timothy is all about instruction concerning the leadership of a local congregation of believers. It is also loaded with direction for the leaders themselves.
In the modern and post-modern church (as in the ancient), a leader's time and duties may become fragmented. As a result, he must sometimes choose to give priority to some tasks at the expense of others. This is not to say that some matters are unimportant, only that some tasks demand more biblical priority. Paul lists these.
A pastor is to read the Word, exhort by it, teach it, and do it all within the context of the gifting he has received. A pastor may fail to do all that some think he should, but he can never neglect to do what God commands he must.
The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian. - A. W. Tozer
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