Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
I have heard the comments a lot . . .
Why does a pastor not have to work like everyone else?
Why is the minister paid by the church? Why are we asked to support missionaries when it's the church's job to support them?
Listen again to the Word of God:
For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages . . ." (1 Timothy 5:18)
Paul quotes from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 25:4)to emphasize that the Christian worker deserves pay for his duties. Everyone else gets paid well for their jobs. What is so different about Christian workers? If God set aside provisions for the Levites way back in the Old Testament (including land and food) why is it so hard for the people of God today to support the work of the Church?
It is a challenge to say the least to be called and dedicated to full time ministry yet still have to work outside of that calling and be able to do both jobs well. Something gets cheated! Will it be the ministry . . . the secular job . . . the families . . .? Ultimately it is God's people who get cheated and God Himself who is disrespected!
What has to happen to convince God's people to support His work and His workers?
We are the Church!
We must give so the Church can be effective. God holds us accountable.
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