Very early on the in the newborn church the Apostles provided the initial teaching (Acts 2:42ff), but later , other teachers who understood the gospel began to travel from town to town teaching as best they could. For instance consider Apollos in Acts 18:24-28. He came first to Ephesus and then went on to Corinth to teach.
As the church continued to expand, they appointed elders to guide them. The elders were responsible to leading and teaching the church. The church in turn had a responsibility to the Elders. This passage provides some guidelines for the Church in taking care of her Elders. The first aspect of this is in the area of finances.
Now I have to be direct here: this is a very uncomfortable passage for me to teach because it can be misconstrued to be self serving. To a certain extent I suppose it can be. But quite frankly if it wasn't “the next verse” I just wouldn't teach it because it really does make me uncomfortable. But you know when I was called to the ministry I made an intentional decision to teach exactly what the word of God said no matter what. And many times I've preached passages that were difficult in other ways and I've done it without regret. For the same reason – and because this is the word of God I'm going to bring this message today without regret.
Please open your Bible to 1 Timothy 5:17-25 and read it with me.

Provide Their Living VV17-18

The honor here is not only respect but, as with the widows in v3 means financial compensation. The principle at work in this text is simply that: Provide for the financial living of your elders.

Pay the Elders What they're worth.

Just a quick notation for you to consider. Having been to Haiti several years in a row I've seen first hand the effects of poverty on the island nation. Over at Doing Theology From The Caribbean there's an article regarding a chance to eliminate Haiti's national debt. Do me a favor and read that article.
Certainly I agree with the precept of the article that eliminating the debt may well help the people of Haiti as money could be used to take care of simple things like paying the police and maybe provide medical or other infrastructure building funds.
My experience in Haiti however is that this is a people who are both cunning and capable on so many levels. One Creole word which I learned is apparently descriptive of a way of life "degaje" (day-gah-jay) means "make due" or "get by". And those beautiful people know how to degaje.
I am not ignorant of their financial needs, and I am also eager to see them all a little better off. But my greater concern for Haiti however is it's legal debt... to the Lord.

From Between two worlds: Christians and Tipping

If it wasn't clear to you yet, Hollywood wants Christian money and

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I'm terrible when it comes to buying books.