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* (c)
My late mentor, Dr Bola Akin-John of blessed memory told us about some ministers who were fond of saying "The money of God belong to the man of God so the man of God can spend the money of God on behalf of God". He warned against this strongly.
These category of ministers believe they have the right to spend any amount that comes into the church coffers without any form of restriction. This is likely true of some ministries today because of an imbalanced understanding about how to administer the welfare for ministers. They run their ministries without clearly defined boundaries on financial matters.
*3#. Lack of clear-cut financial policy*
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*.
Under the Levitical priesthood, God specified the portions of offerings and gifts that belonged to the Levites for their personal use or consumption. A bible reader that doesn't pay attention to details may think all that comes into the temple's treasury belonged to the Levites. That's not true.
In fact, God specified what should be given the high priest, widows and others. This shows that our God is a God of order. He doesn't want His servants to be arbitrary in matters pertaining to his resources. If we are to learn and adapt God's method for today's ministry, the right thing to do will be to have clear-cut policy around finances in our various ministries.
This policy has to be written in black and white for everyone to know what belongs to them and what they must not touch. That is order. The culture of taking from the ministry's purse arbitrarily is not of God. That is not how to prosper as a minister.
God want his ministers to live well. He doesn't want them to be beggarly, poor, sick and living below his plan. Right from under the old covenant, he made robust welfare plan for those serving in the temple so that they can concentrate. I don't think He will do less for ministers of the new covenant.
Though God's plan is good for his ministers, yet, He doesn't want his servants to be disorderly or to go about it in the wrong way as some are doing. There is order about the things of the kingdom. Failure to align is the reason for the excesses we see today.
As a preacher of the gospel, get trusted men and women into the board of your ministry. Together with them, decide on how your welfare should be administered, let it be written and signed by relevant persons on the board.
That policy should be a guide and must set your limits as a minister.