Double Honor

The first in a series on ministerial compensation . . .

We need to begin with the honor. When God tells us to do something, we should do it, and we should try to solve any problems that have resulted from our obedience after the fact. We must not try to anticipate any such problems beforehand, and then use those difficulties as a reason for not being able to obey. When God commands to do something, He expects us to have the problems that will result from doing what He said to do. Enroll in the math class, and you will have math problems. Enroll in the obedience class, and you will have obedience problems. This is not offered in the spirit of being glib—the problems can be significant. But obedience, as MacDonald said, is the great opener of eyes.

That said, the Bible says that we are to pay ministers, and pay them well. The text does not expressly say what it is that is to be doubled, but it is likely in the extreme that it will at least be double what some people think appropriate.

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward” (1 Tim. 5:17-18).

This is interesting several ways. One is that the apostle Paul says, “Scripture says,” and then goes on to quote Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7. Moses teaches this principle, and Jesus teaches it. Deuteronomy and Luke are both counted as Scripture. In Scripture, honor frequently has a direct financial component (Mk. 7: 10-12; Acts 28:10; Rom. 13:7; 1 Tim. 5:3). We see the same kind of thing in our language with the word honorarium. Of course it is not separable from the honor of attitude. If you slapped an envelope down on someone’s desk and said, “Here’s your stupid money,” that would not be double honor, regardless of how much the check was for.

There is a vast difference between being motivated by money (1 Tim. 6:5), and being equipped or provisioned by money (Phil. 4:14). This is a difference that slander is quite capable of overlooking. But double honor is for the latter.

The Bible clearly teaches that real financial accountability is an absolutely necessity (2 Cor. 8:20-21). Anyone who resents that accountability is either naïve or has something to hide. On the other hand, there are those who, in the name of such accountability, do nothing but deliver unnecessary insults to the Lord’s servants, and they do this by their manner. Whatever accountability looks like, it must not look like dishonor for those who are worthy of double honor. While the apostle Paul was busy establishing the foundations of a new civilization, there were purblind critics who thought his pay scale was somewhat inflated. “Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink?” (1 Cor. 9:3-4). Every generation has its paper clip counters, and the apostle Paul had men in his circle who thought he was busting their budget. Never mind the fact that had he not been there, there would not have been a budget in the first place . . .

So this study has to begin with the recognition that the apostle Paul was, on more than one occasion, called on the carpet for how much he made. There is a certain type of mentality, present in virtually all budget discussions, that wants to make sure we aren’t wasting the Lord’s money. But before we dismiss them with a wave of the hand, it must be said, one of the problems that attends obedience is that we do have to deal with hirelings and aspiring theology wonks who want to read fat books for a living. Because of this, all healthy reformations have more than a touch of anti-clericalism. But we must distinguish. There are those who are worthy of their hire, and would rather die than ask for more money (1 Cor. 9:12), and there are those who are not worthy of their hire, and who want an indoor job with no heavy lifting. It has been wisely said that a hot sun and a slow mule have been responsible for many a call to the ministry.

If we want to sort all this out, we have to turn to Scripture. These are not new problems, and the Bible addresses them in full. We will begin with shepherds who feed only themselves.