Some churches find budgeting season to be stressful and difficult. Many of us know of churches that hold their congregational budget meetings with great fear and trepidation. The reason is some members use this event as an opportunity to gripe about how much money the pastor makes, or to complain they aren't worth the expense. Too often these meetings become shouting matches and I am sure Satan is right there in the ring with the disgruntled few, cheering them on.
Paul must have experienced some form of this behavior from a few members of his congregation, as he renounced his right for a wage for the work he did in the churches. It was his choice because he didn't want to hinder his success. Paul then went on to teach that it was the duty and the privilege of Christian congregations to support their preachers.
How many of us would take a job that requires a 40-70 hour work week? How many of us are willing to be called any hour of the day or night, any season or holiday too? It is curious as well to discover who among us would be anxious to take a job that generally does not compensate accordingly. How often have you said, or at least thought, "You couldn't pay me enough to get up in front of a congregation and preach a sermon every Sunday?"
- If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? (1 Corinthians 9:11)
- In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14)
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