Does your church supply your pastor's pay? Does your pastor live in a large home and drive a nice car? Does you pastor have it too good? In this passage we look at a pastor's pay.
How much should a pastor be paid? This is a great question when a pastor is supposed to give all to the service of the church of Christ. The pastor is to be an example to the church of what it means to be like Christ.
Jesus Christ had no bed to lay His head and He asked for no donations. Yet it is true Jesus allowed people to supply His needs.
Christ taught His disciple when they go to a city they were to take nothing; this would allow the people to receive them and supply their needs. From this example we learn a pastor is to receive, not ask. Yet there are many pastors who negotiate their salaries.
Some challenge their salaries based upon the increase of tithes to the church. Then there are some who have the freedom to take what they want from the church coffers. The pastor's pay is a large discussion and a large source of criticism, for the love of money can corrupt.
There are churches which take in contributions of millions of dollars each year and their pastors live in luxury. On the same scale, some of these churches which take in million have pastors who live in reasonable homes and live on the same scale as the majority of the church members. This is the difference in receiving and taking.
In our passage Paul was answering sharp criticism he received about money which has given to him. Paul was a traveling pastor and roamed throughout the cities of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia helping the first Christian churches establish themselves.
When Paul would come to a city he would teach, counsel, and support the leadership to strengthen them. A visit from Paul was well received for Paul was good support.
However, Paul would often encounter some who didn’t care for his ministry; they had suspicious minds. When Paul was away, they would ask tough questions and here in Corinth, they challenged the leadership about the money paid to him. When Paul heard of the controversy he answered them.
I don't have to limit myself to these everyday examples, because the Law says the same thing. 1 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)
After giving a introduction to the new subject, Paul makes this strong statement. In today’s language it would be worded, “If you think I’m making it up, I can show you in the scriptures where this is biblical.” Paul then quotes a verse from Deuteronomy which speaks towards their criticism and then, answers their criticism.
We read in the Law of Moses, "Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain." Now, is God concerned about oxen? Didn't he really mean us when he said that? Of course that was written for us. Anyone who plows and anyone who reaps should do their work in the hope of getting a share of the crop. We have sown spiritual seed among you. Is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? 1 Corinthians 9:-11 (NKJV)
The principle exists in scripture to take care of the needs of those who serve you.
Paul has stated in his introduction he is a servant of God to the church. He had come to Corinth as a servant and if those who administered the funds for the church wanted to support Paul's ministry by taking care of his need, then it was scriptural for Paul to take the compensation.
There is a large difference between being given money and taking money; just as there is a difference in meeting a person's needs or filling a person wants. A person could want to live satisfied and able to store up for tomorrow. Yet meeting a person needs does not give room for excess.
If others have the right to expect this from you, don't we have an even greater right? But we haven't made use of this right. Instead, we have endured everything in order not to put any obstacle in the way of the Good News about Christ. Surely you know that the men who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and that those who offer the sacrifices on the altar get a share of the sacrifices. In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who preach the gospel should get their living from it. 1 Corinthians 9:12-14 (NKJV)
People fail because of money; and it is a fact, people doubt other people. Pastors are often criticized for drawing paychecks. But if they have nothing they will suffer need for money to continue to live and minister. Thus, if they are going to serve the church and the Lord with their time, their needs should be met by the church.
Some in Corinth came from the ideology their church should compete with the false religion. They believed a church should have large buildings and influence people to come to your gatherings. They felt the need to manage their resources so they can do just that.
Others had seen great mismanagement of funds and those who disagreed with Paul's teaching felt he should receive nothing and if he received nothing, Paul would not come back.
Paul also traveled with companions and these companions served in the church as did Paul, which raised the amount of support needed. Yet what the church would spiritually gain by Paul's visit would be far more valuable.
Church administration will be constantly under attack and disagreements on salaries will be voiced. Yet, those who guide our churches must pray for guidance on each financial decision they make to ensure they are scripturally sound, spiritually uplifting, and responsibly measured.
Paul saw these criticism as a problem of their youth as a church. He took no sides and harbored no ill feelings. In love he approached the problem with sound scriptural teachings.
How does a church measure how much to pay its pastors? By looking at their needs, not considering their wants. We must care for our pastors and their pay should help them to mister to their fullest, not corrupting them in the process.
We must realize this distraction money causes in the lives of people and be in prayer on our management of it.
