After my son became lead pastor one of the many things we are taking a fresh look at is how ministers of the gospel should think and feel about being paid by the church; and how the church ought to think and feel about paying ministers of the gospel. This little study came out of those discussions.
Attitude of Minister Re: Pay or Remuneration from the Church:
“Not peddling the word of God” – II Corinthians 2:17
“As poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things” – II Corinthians 6:10
Content with little or much Phil. 4:11-13: I Tim. 6:8
Not coveting anyone’s anything – Acts 20:33
More blessed to give than to receive – Acts 20:35
Willing to give up the right for renumeration and any other right if demanding or expecting it is going to cause a stumbling block to those we are ministering to – I Cor. 9:12, 22,23
No pretext for greed – I Thessalonians 1:5
Not wanting to be a burden to others financially – I Thess. 1:9
“…nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.” II Thess. 3:7-9
Free from the love of money – I Tim. 3:3
Content with food and covering – I Tim. 6:6-8
Working hard – “the hard working farmer….” II Tim. 2:6
Attitude or Action of Church Re: Paying Ministers of the Gospel:
Matthew 10:9-15, 40; & vs. 41,42 are some of the first mentions of how the church or anyone in a given city should respond to and care for ministers and prophets.
Glad to share in minister’s need (whether local or missionary) – Phil. 4:14, 16; III John 5-8
Consider elders who rule well worthy of double honor (especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching), knowing that we are commanded to not muzzle the ox and the laborer is worthy of his wages – I Tim. 5:17, 18 (cf. I Cor. 9:9,10)
Share all good things with those who teach you – Galatians 6:6
Recognize that ministers have a right to eat and drink (I Cor. 9:4)
Recognize that soldiers do not serve at their own expense (I Cor. 9:7); farmers do not plant vineyards and then not get to eat of the fruit of them (I Cor. 9:7); and shepherds who tend their flocks should be able to use the milk from their flocks (I Cor. 9:7)
Recognize that those who sow spiritual things into believers should be able to reap material things from them (I Cor. 9:11)
Recognize that in the old covenant those who performed the sacred services were allowed to eat the food from the sacrifices of the worshippers (I Cor. 9:13)
Recognize that the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel (I Cor. 9:14)
“The hard working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.” II Timothy 2:6