Mark 10:29-30 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. NLT
Years back, i told a brother that things seems not to be working in my life yet I kept preaching and doing my duties. I was becoming tired because I felt God should have bettered my lot. He told me to continue preaching the word and to be diligent in my assignment. One of the things I learnt in ministry is to wait on God to reward me and never to look up to man as my rewarder. The bible says, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister"(Heb6:10).God is the rewarder of his servants not man.
The moment you begin to look up to man to reward you, disappointment is sure. Some preachers get angry when given small honorarium having traveled a long distance to preach. I've been there before. Some will even vow never to honour invitation from such quarters. Take this lesson from me, "When invited to preach, take more than enough with you for transport so that you won't be disappointed". There are ministers that are heart broken because the members they thought will provide for their needs after labouring with them in prayers left their church. Some even turned against the Pastor that stood with them in time of trouble. A lot of ministers have experienced this. This sad experience has made some persons to commercialize prayer and put a price tag on God's grace upon their lives. It is no news that some ministers enter into money agreement before praying for people.
Dear minister of the gospel, certain things comes as a test. May you be sensitive to identify a test when it comes. I have a strange counsel for you, "quit expecting a human reward from where you have laboured so that if it doesn't come, you won't be disappointed. Just look up to God- he never fails". Avoid what Pastor Temi call "Overcompensation". Some ministers use the power of their office to overcompensate themselves citing how much they have laboured and sacrificed for their ministry. This happens because they can't wait for God's pay day. God doesn't pay every day neither does he pay at the end of the month. He pays at his appointed time and he pays big.
Father, I receive the grace to wait for your pay day. I refuse to fall into the trap of overcompensation in Jesus name. Amen