And He's Fired

You know, the past several months, I have really stepped on toes. I’ve talked about what married couples do in bed. I’ve talked about divorce. I’ve talked about singleness. I’ve talked about a bunch of smaller issues that many people make into bigger issues, such as alcohol, gambling, and modesty.

I’ve really stepped on toes. And ya’ll haven’t kicked me out yet.

Now, we get to a sermon that the ordinary pastor does not preach. This is the sermon that most people get someone else to preach, because after if the pastor preaches it, he is normally fired. Or, at least some major grudges are held.

I’m talking about ministerial finances.

When you hear the phrase: ministerial finances, what do you think of?

You all said some great positive things.... Now, what are some negative things that you think of?

Discussions I have had with people come back to the concept: He is working for God. Why should he get so much money? And examples are given of tele-evangelists with their fancy cars and personal jets.

Ministerial finances.

Let’s read the text:

1 Corinthians 9:1–18 NIV

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Ministerial finances. Oh, it is such a convoluted topic.

Let’s pray.

We are going to take this passage in two weeks. This week we are going to talk about the Rights of a minister of the Gospel. Next week, we will talk about the Privilege of a minister of the Gospel.

This week will be the more controversial sermon. Next week, will be the happy, everyone is comfortable, sermon.

As I speak, please don’t think that I am saying anything to complain about our church. I am speaking more to generalized ideas that have become rooted in the American church.

This week, the Rights of a Minister of the Gospel.

1. The Minister Has a Right to receive Resources

The minister has a right to receive resources

Paul says

1 Corinthians 9:4–6 NIV

Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

A minister has a right to receive resources for the work he is doing in a church.

Paul explains this right using experience, the Old Testament Law, the temple system, and Jesus’ teaching.

A. Explanation

1. Experience

No one is expected to work in this world without some sort of pay. Technically, I am serving on the school board for free. But, they do things to show appreciation. Normally, we have cookies and brownies. We also have opportunities for continued education. Places like Omaha pay their school boards because of the amount of time that position takes.

Paul mentions soldiers are not expected to equip themselves when they enter the service. Our army would be empty if that were the case. No, the army provides everything that a soldier needs. We would not expect someone to fight on the front line for free.

Paul also mentions agricultural work. Someone who tends a vine expects to eat the grapes from the vine. Someone who takes care of a flock expects to drink milk, or eat meat. We go through the hardship of taking care of plants and animals in order to receive something back. If we don’t, something is wrong, in Paul’s mind.

Paul equates ministry with agriculture and war. A minister is on the front lines of a spiritual battle every day. He says that just as a soldier should not fight at his own expense, so a minister shouldn’t because of the difficulty.

As a minister is painstakingly nurturing life from those who were spiritually dead, planting seeds, watering, fertilizing in people’s lives, caring, ministering, leading, so a minister should be able to reap a benefit from that work.

But, it is interesting, while we live in a society that proves these truths over and over again, so many churches go against what is logical and expect their minister to serve without benefits. God is his pay. He is laying up for himself treasures in heaven, and the church is making sure that all of his treasures are in heaven.

Why do so many churches have this mindset? We will come back to that.

2. Old Testament Law

Paul then moves from experience to Old Testament Law. He explains:

1 Corinthians 9:8–11 NIV

Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 25:4 “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”

After grain was cut and put into sheaves, or bundles, the grain would be brought to the barns by way of the threshing floor. The grain would be laid down on hard flooring and cattle were driven over it, trampling it down, and breaking the grain from straws and the ears.

It was normal practice to allow your oxen to eat from the grain as it was threshing. This would allow it to work harder and stay healthier.

However, if you were borrowing someone else’s oxen, you may not want to allow that ox to steal your grain. It is interesting to note the context of Deuteronomy 25:4. It is about justice in society, not compassion. It is just to feed your neighbors ox and return it healthy.

This verse isn’t about compassion, but about justice. We are not to misuse something that is owned by someone else, for our own benefit.

Except for pastors. No, Paul says, nothing, include pastors who are Jesus’ under-shepherds, should be misused.

Why do so many churches want to cheat their pastors? We will come back to that.

3. The Temple System

From experience, to the Law, Paul turns to the Temple System.

1 Corinthians 9:13 NIV

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?

The Jews were already practicing what Paul was preaching. The temple priests did not work for the Israelites. They worked for God. They were to show the Israelites who God was and mediate a relationship between God and the Israelites.

The life of the priests was wrapped up in ministry for God. But, God provided a way for the priests to live.

Deuteronomy 18:1 NIV

The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance.

The people of Israel brought gifts, tithes, offerings. Those were for the upkeep of the temple and the livelihood of the priests, so that they could focus on their work for God.

The people of Israel brought gifts for God, and God gave those gifts to his servants, the priests.

So, why do so many churches not want to do that? We will come back to that.

4. Jesus’ Teaching

Finally, after speaking from experience, the Law, the temple system, Paul brings out the big guns. He refers to Jesus’ teaching.

1 Corinthians 9:14 NIV

In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Interestingly, Paul refers to OT law and Jesus’ teaching in his letter to Timothy:

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NIV

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

Both in 1 Corinthians and in 1 Timothy, Paul is referring back to instructions Jesus gave to his 72 of his disciples when they were going out as an advance team to his arrival. He told them:

Luke 10:5–7 NIV

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

He expected his disciples, as they were ministering under him, to be provided resources so that they could focus on their task.

But, as we know, this applied to just Jesus’ disciples. No, Paul believes Jesus’ teaching applies to all ministers of the Gospel.

So, why do so many churches not want to pay their pastors? Great question.

Let’s talk about it.

B. Objection

Okay, pastor, you are telling me that a minister has a right to receive resources. How much pay are we talking about?

This is why so many churches are leery about this discussion.

They are stuck in a concept of pay. In their minds, the pastor is working for the church, hired by the church, to perform a task, and then is payed according to that task.

But, how in the world can some put a price tag on what a pastor does?

What does a pastor do? Put simply by Paul:

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

A pastor equips the people of God for the service of God. So, he preaches and teaches. He counsels. He casts vision and leads. He performs sacraments. He officiates weddings and funerals. He leads Bible studies and equips others to do it. He maintains a building and updates technology. And on and on we could.

How do we put a price-tag on the work of a pastor? It is completely subjective. We could look in the secular world, but there is no correlation.

The pay is completely subjective to the worth the congregation places on the duties of a pastor.

Think about how much we are willing to pay someone who directs the education of our children, such as a superintendent or a principal. Do we place the same priority on our spiritual education?

Think about how much we are willing to pay someone who cares for our physical health. Do we place the same priority on our spiritual health?

We could keep going, on through different tasks and responsibilities. But, we won’t, because it is fruitless. It is all subjective. One person will say that a pastor is worth this much, and the next person will disagree.

The problem is, we are stuck in the concept of pay. Money for a task completed.

Is that what it is supposed to be?

C. Realization

Let’s talk about a realization that churches should have.

I love Don Carson’s perspective:

“The church does not pay its ministers; rather it provides them with resources so that they are able to serve freely.”

Regardless of what the IRS insists on, the church does not pay the pastor. It merely gives the pastor resources to live on.

Think about the person who borrows the oxen to thresh his grain. He is not paying his oxen, he is supplying resources so that the ox can keep going and so that it can return to its master in a good condition.

Think about the temple priests. They are not paid by Israel. They are merely supplied resources so that they can focus on the work God has called them to do.

A pastor is provided resources to live on.

So, now, we don’t have to have the discussion of: how much is the work of a pastor worth? Now, we have the discussion, what does a pastor need to live?

The answer to that question changes based upon the area and the circumstances.

A pastor in Africa needs different resources than a pastor living in Manhattan. Because cost of living is different.

A pastor who is single needs different resources than a pastor who is married with ten children.

The goal is to provide resources so that a pastor can focus on ministry and not be stressed about providing for his family.

What does that look like?

Well, what does that look like for you? What would it look like to not worry about finances so that you could focus on what God has called you to do?

What does it look like to return your pastor back to God having been a good steward of him?

1. Finances

Let’s talk about finances.

The goal of a church is to provide financial resources so that the pastor can focus on the work of ministry.

What does that entail?

Well, he must have enough finances to stay in an adequate home and not be stressed about that. He must have enough finances to feed himself and his family, and not be worried about it. He needs to be able to clothe his family.

Paul writes to Timothy:

1 Timothy 5:8 NIV

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

A pastor should never have to worry that he will be consider as someone who has denied the faith because he has to choose between ministry and providing for his family.

These are the essential things.

Let’s talk about further things, expected things in today’s society. A church should provide resources for health insurance. Not being on a group plan, that could be expensive. There are some cheap plans out there, but do we want our pastors to be on a plan that we would never be on ourselves. That’s muzzling an ox.

Think about retirement. There will be a time when a pastor cannot perform the ministry tasks he was previously able to perform. What does it mean to take care of him so that he does not have to worry about that day in the future?

There are so many considerations when a church puts together a resource package for their pastor.

Some considerations are based on Scriptural qualifications.

Consider what Paul exhorts Titus:

Titus 1:6 NIV

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

Does the pastor have the resources to hire a babysitter so that he can pursue a relationship with his wife?

Speaking of the wife, does she have to work because the church isn’t willing to pay the pastor more? Studies show that children have less behavioral issues when the mother doesn’t work. Are we increasing the chances that a pastor will have wild and disobedient children by expecting his wife to work.

Paul continues

Titus 1:8 NIV

Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

A pastor is called to be hospitable. That means inviting people over, normally for meals, which involved food, more energy usage, more money.

A church needs to provide enough resources so that the pastor can be hospitable as he is called to be. Too often, churches chain their pastors so that they cannot meet their God-given responsibilities.

We could talk about finances involved in visitation, like gas, wear-and-tear on vehicles, meal costs for counseling.

So many other things, financial necessities of the position.

We will stop talking about finances.

2. Emotions

Let’s talk about emotional resources for a little bit.

The church provides resources so that the pastor is able to serve freely.

I said I was going to stop talking about finances, but unfortunately, that plans in here as well.

Paul says:

1 Corinthians 9:5 NIV

Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

The wife of a pastor plays a huge role in the emotional health of the pastor. Too many pastors’ wives are forced to work because the church will not pay the pastor more. And instead of ministering to their husband, they are stuck at work and the pastor’s emotional state suffers… Not to mention the kids, again.

A pastor needs fellowship with his wife.

A pastor needs fellowship with like-minded ministers. That means time and finances. Time away from ministry and money to travel to those like-minded ministers. I am connected with a group of Berean pastors. We meet once a month, at each other churches. We have a 2.5 hour radius, where I am at the extreme end. So most of the time, I travel 2 hours, up to 4 hours to meet with these men. So that I can be emotionally healthy, and so that I can be held accountable for life and theology.

A pastor needs rest. I appreciate that this church gives me time off every year, because every year I get tired, emotionally and spiritually. My family gets tired as I am continually walking the tightrope between ministry and family. You provide me one week to attend a pastors’ conference, and you provide three additional weeks of vacation. It is great.

According to studies, most pastors, even those who take regular vacations and holidays, burn out every seven or eight years. Many churches will give their pastor a 3-6 month sabbatical every seven years, based off of the agricultural schedule of the OT Law. God told the Israelites to let their fields rest every seven years. This helps a pastor maintain his ministry, so that he can be returned to God in good condition.

There are so many other things we could talk about, in terms of providing resources. If you want to talk about this, please let me know.

The minister has a right to receive resources.

2. From those to whom he ministers

Paul is clear in this passage and in the passage in 1 Timothy, and Jesus is clear in the passage in Luke. God was clear in the temple system. Those who are under the ministers care are to bring those resources.

If we follow the illustration of the Temple, followers of God bring gifts to God, and the minister is allowed to use them.

Should there be accountability? Totally. That is why most churches provide a salary. The church decides all of the factors I have talk about, and more, and they say: for you to focus on ministry, this is an appropriate salary. And the pastor doesn’t get any more than that.

But, the church must provide those resources.

If a church is not providing adequate resources for their pastor, they are going against Jesus’ command and clear Scriptural principles.

Now, there are some churches, due to their size and economic condition, that cannot support a pastor. They are required to give what they can.

I think about the widow with her two pennies. There are plenty of two penny churches out there. The churches cannot give much, but what they can give, they give abundantly. The pastor finds resources elsewhere.

Paul was financially supported by other churches when he was in Corinth. Sometimes, he also picked up part-time work as a tent-maker. But, that wasn’t the norm.

Calvary Bible Church is one of those churches. I came here because you could not afford a pastor. The goal is to continue to grow, physically and spiritually, so that you can adequately support a pastor, so that you can fulfill the requirement that God has for you, to be a good steward of his servant.

Okay.

If this sermon has stirred up anything, please let me know. Let’s talk and continue studying what the Bible has to say about ministerial finances.

Today we discussed the rights of the minister of the Gospel: he has a right to receive resources from those to whom he ministers.