Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*
*SHOULD PREACHERS BE PAID*? (a)
I will like us to delve into another aspect of this series which I believe If we do not touch, this series will not be complete. My desire is to balance truths that some preachers have taken to the extreme and help God's children have balanced knowledge about the truth written in God's word.
One question in the hearts of some believers whenever they hear preachers are paid salaries, allowances or honorarium is: "Should preachers be paid"? I won't blame those asking this question because certain excesses have been pushed forth which makes the payment of ministers distasteful.
Some of the abuses which some preachers have pushed forth is: charging money to preach or pray with a long list of requirements to be met, demanding consultation fee and other unbiblical practice that stems from greed.
However, the abuse of a thing doesn't cancel or nullify it outrightly. Now, to the question, should preachers be paid? Scripture must come to our rescue on this.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NLT)
[17] *Elders who do their work well SHOULD BE respected and PAID WELL, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching*.
[18] *For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay*!”
Yes, the bible supports the payment of preachers. This is not my word but God's, spoken through Paul, a foremost apostle used by God to lay doctrinal foundation in the new testament.
He emphasized that those who labour in teaching God's word should be paid well. Meaning, their payment should be able to meet needs and make them live well. You may not like it but this is a scriptural injunction for every living church.
Some people in church boards or council always look out for ways to cut down the allowances of their pastors because they believe the poorer he becomes, the more spiritual he'll be. That is a wrong spirit. Those in church boards should be mature spiritually to understand these things and not work against it
It is even worse with missionaries working in places where the people do not give. Some believers have never blessed a missionary all their life. They think certain amounts will be too big to give missionaries so they look away or give pittance. This is not the spirit of Christ.
Even under the Mosaic covenant, God placed a high premium on the welfare of the Levites who are ministers of death. One of the purposes of tithing was to cater for their needs. Do you think God will do less for ministers of the new covenant?
We need to be biblically schooled in these things. God's delight is that the welfare of his servants are properly attended to by God's people. It is His will.
Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*
Father, I receive grace to be generous towards your servants in the name of Jesus Christ.