Third in a series on ministerial compensation . . .
Given the fact that “many” in the ministry are guilty of milking the ministry for all it is worth, it should therefore not be surprising that many who are responsible for budgets are on guard against this kind of thing. But the warnings against avarice are given to those who might fall into it. The warnings against dishonor through contemptible wages are given to those who might offer such wages.
This is actually a pretty difficult problem to solve. It is not possible to assume that “if we haven’t heard from him, things must be okay.” A board of elders is far more likely to hear from someone who is not worthy of double honor, and far less likely to hear from someone who is. Someone who faithfully works in the ministry, and who imitates the example of the apostle Paul, would rather die than ask for a raise.
“Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia” (1 Cor. 11:7-10).
The apostle Paul knew that how money was offered and received, or offered and not received, was an important part of his effectiveness in ministry. The tithe is the Lord’s money, and it does not belong to the stewards of it. The stewards must give an account, but this account must be an accounting first for what is on the surface, and not with what is hidden. The Lord’s first questions will concern his first commandments, and will not be down in the fine print. Did you honor?
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:17).
Now with this command, would it be more important to avoid giving too much or too little. Remember that those who are worthy of double honor will not police this for you.
The apostle Paul was embarrassed about the prospect of looking like he was fishing for a gift (Phil. 4:17). Faithful believers are not ostentatious. When a televangelist is flamboyant, and tells his regiments of devoted followers that all they need to go to get wealthy is lay their hand on the television and say, three times, “the money cometh, the money cometh, the money cometh,” this is the kind of sin that would have difficulty flourishing in respectable churches. Disreputable churches fall into disreputable sins. Respectable churches, on the other hand, tend to fall into the sins that afflict respectable church. And, it must be said, that underpaying ministers is far more likely in responsible circles.
We can see this in how Paul warns his people. Those scoundrels who are fleecing the flocks are not part of the apostolic circle—they are cult leaders, over there, who think that profit and godliness are interchangeable synonyms. Men do not found cults in order to get by on starvation rations. But faithful ministers often do suffer silently, rather than bring a reproach on the gospel by looking like they are in it for the money. This is the error that Paul routinely has to caution his people from falling into. And this is the way it has been ever since.
“Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void” (1 Cor. 9:3-15).
Jesus once warns His followers against making snap judgments. He says that we are not to go on the basis of appearances, but are rather to probe a little bit. “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). If a board of elders has a good man, then probing questions are an absolute necessity. “Doin’ okay?” every three years will be insufficient. If you have a good man, then the answer will always be “doin’ okay.” He is doing okay because he is a Calvinist, and with God on his side, and that 23 cents in his pocket, he can do anything.
The honor we offer must be weighty and tangible enough to seem like honor. We have to honor godly men in two ways—first by supplying their needs, and secondly by not provoking them (or their wives) into having to spell out any needs they might have. Honor avoids envy like it was poison—because it is poison, actually. Honor avoids glib and superficial wage comparisons, which we will address shortly. If it is a comparison that would drive the offered salary down, then it is probably not motivated by a desire to honor.