Nobody I know does ministry for the money. Nobody goes I am
going to take up a load of debt so I can go into a ministry that won’t pay that
well either. Serving God isn’t about money, it’s about sharing his word. It’s
hard to go to Bible College knowing you are going to a private institution
(Usually means paying a lot more then a state college). This is why I commend
anyone who is going to Bible College. You literally have to say I am going to
trust God with my life and my calling.
2 Corinthians 2:17… “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the
word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with
sincerity, as those sent from God.”
Sharing the word of Jesus is never about the money. Yet in
Paul’s time he had to speak against false prophets. These were people that used
the word of God to make money. Paul said they peddled for profit. This would be
like the Israelites at the time that were known for diluted their wine so they
could make more profit. Paul speaks against this.
Out of all the minister’s I have met in my life, I have
never met one that was in this for the money. I can say that from the depths of
my heart. Even the one’s I don’t see eye
to eye with, I know they love Jesus and want to see his kingdom grow. Ministry
is tough, you do this because you love Jesus and want to see his will be done
on earth, yet minister’s have to face unrealistic expectations.
Being a minister doesn’t mean you have to be broke, it means
you trust the church to take care of your needs. Paul worked as a missionary
and often didn’t take money himself for it would be a conflict of his message.
That is awesome. Paul also didn’t have a family to care for or student loan
debt.
I went into ministry knowing I needed to make sure my family
would be taken care of by the church we went too. I once had a phone interview
with a church out of college. This church was very interested in me and they
asked early on, what I thought I should be paid (I thought this was weird to
ask this early but went with it). I said I need between 27,000 and 33,000 with
health insurance. The man responded well we are offering 22,500 with no
insurance. I told him this wasn’t feasible for a family of four and some of the
health issues I have.
He responded you just have to trust God, and told about his
back problem he had for the past couple of years, but he didn’t have insurance
and trusted God to take care of him. I was put off by this guys attitude and
told him well this doesn’t look like it could be a fit for my family then. His
tone of voice showed a great displeasure in my answer and told me, “Good luck
trying to find a church to meet your needs.”
The three churches’ I have served in have done a great job
in meeting my families needs and any needs that came up. The church is supposed
to meet the needs of the minister. A minister shouldn’t have to go and ask for
a raise from the church, because the church should know if they are truly
taking care of the ministers. If the church leadership (Elders and deacons) are
not, they have to answer to God.
I would love to say minister’s don’t have to worry about
money but sadly they do. This past year I talked to a minister who was ashamed
because he had to file for bankruptcy. It wasn’t for living above his needs. It
was what he made as a minister couldn’t pay for the monthly bills with no
thrills. He struggled to make his student loan payment. He was crushed, had no
choice because the church didn’t help and let him struggle. He eventually left
that church beaten, broken and broke. The church let him down.
Ministry can be a thankless task. Many people in ministry
could make a lot more money selling used cars then they could be the senior
minister of a church (Work a lot less hours too). One of my awesome ministry
friends and an elder were talking about this same subject how a used car
salesman makes more money then a lot of ministers. As they were talking the
minister told him this means his bosses at the used car lot take better care
for their employees then the church. Sadly sometimes that can be true.
If you attend church, do you know if your minister’s are
taking care of? I am blessed to say I love where I am at, what I am doing and
how I am taken care of. Health insurance is starting to be an issue with new
policies, but I know my church is going to meet the minister’s needs because we
are loved and cared for. They know they have to answer to God with how we are
treated. Are you doing your part to make sure the needs of your ministers are
being met? If not, how can you help?
Have a great day.
