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*
*THE EXCESSES* (a)
Previously, I established from scriptures why preachers should be supported. It is a standard scriptural practice that has been before Moses, during the Mosaic era and under grace. It is incontrovertible.
However, every truth can be stretched beyond proportion till it becomes tilted towards extremes. As much as it is biblical to support ministers of the gospel financially, there are certain unbiblical practices that has crept in. What are they?
*1#. Charging to preach/pray*
2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
*You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us*.
One of the bane of prosperity gospel today is putting a charge to the delivery of God's word. Those who support this unbiblical act misconstrue support with charging to preach. They are not the same.
*Supporting a minister of the gospel is voluntary. Though it is a command in scriptures (Gal6:6) yet the minister doesn't have the right to charge a fee before standing to preach before God's people*.
Jesus says, *"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received*"!( Mt10:8 NLT)
All through scriptures, Jesus and the apostles preached, prayed and healed the sick freely. There is no precedent in scriptures about any priest, prophet or apostle asking that certain amount be paid into his account before appearing to preach.
*Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion on the people by preaching the gospel for free but some greedy preachers imagine how much they can make from the crowd by charging to do ministry for them*.
This anomaly has eaten deep into the fabric of modern day ministry and it is beginning to look normal even among some upcoming ministers. Some charge per hour to preach. They have personnal assistants who gives a long list of requirements to be met before you can invite them.
I understand a minister must be treated well and I don't extend invitation If I have not put certain things in place to receive my guest. However, there is an excess that comes with when a minister's expectation is unreasonably high to the point of making demands. This is not the Spirit of Christ.
We live in days where some preachers prefer to be called speakers because they want to maintain a brand that can charge fees for preaching. We can earn a living by charging for professional consultation but not the preaching of God's word.
*Mammon is the drive behind the merchandizing we see today. As preachers, we should never get to the point where people will have headache because they want to host us. If Jesus were on earth, I am sure Jesus will walk into any meeting without much attention yet his preaching will be so impactful*.
As a preacher, If all you see is how to make extra cash when you are invited to preach, your belly has become your god. Repent!
Father, deliver me from greed in Jesus name.