God sometimes supports His ministers through the agency of others who serve as conduits of His grace. The Gospel of Luke informs us that Jesus and His twelve disciples were financially supported by several women who traveled with them (Luke 8:1-3). Luke tells us these women included “Mary, who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means” (Luke 8:2b-3). Jesus and His disciples’ daily needs were met because of the gracious contributions of these women. Discipleship involves stewarding one’s material possessions for God’s purposes, and the willingness of these women to support Jesus’ ministry reveals hearts that are aligned with His will.
However, there are also times when God expects His ministers to support themselves through a trade or employment. In such cases, God expects them to remain faithful to their ministry and not compromise His Word. In the New Testament, we learn that the Apostle Paul worked to support himself financially while continuing to engage in regular ministry. He did this so he could freely “offer the gospel without charge” to others (1 Cor 9:18; cf. 2 Cor 11:17). When preaching in Ephesus, he said, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me” (Acts 20:33-34). To the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (1 Th 2:9). In his second letter to them, he emphasized, “we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example” (2 Th 3:8-9). This ethic aligns with Jesus’ instructions to His disciples when He told them to preach to the lost sheep of Israel, saying, “Freely you received, freely give” (Matt 10:8). Jesus expected His disciples to engage in ministry without seeking personal gain, embodying the principle of grace.
Christians who receive free teaching from their pastor-teacher should also freely offer their support for the work he does. However, if they don’t, the pastor is still obligated to continue his ministry because he is under divine orders to “preach the word” (2 Tim 4:2). Like Jonah (Jonah 1:1) and Jeremiah (Jer 1:5), Paul was commissioned by the Lord to preach His Word to others (Acts 26:16-17; Gal 1:15). Understanding his divine commission, Paul said, “I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor 9:16). Paul’s marching orders were to preach, even if others did not recognize his calling or support him. Paul faced many hardships, stating, “To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now” (1 Cor 4:11-13). Paul was committed to his ministry calling, regardless of his circumstances. It is ironic that some pastors will claim they are “called by God” to preach His Word but then condition their ministry on the financial support of others. Such men are no better than the corrupt priests and prophets in Micah’s day who “instruct for a price” and “divine for money” (Mic 3:11; cf. Jer 6:13). Nonsense! Preach the word! Have faith! God will provide! Bible teachers should maintain doctrinal integrity and not allow financial pressures to dictate the content or direction of their teaching. Reliance on God is a critical aspect of spiritual leadership.
A pastor who does not like to hear this should check his attitude. If he teaches others to be content with “food and covering” (1 Tim 6:8), he should be content with the same. If he teaches others not “to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Tim 6:17), he should model this attitude himself. This does not mean a pastor cannot or should not enjoy support and prosperity if the Lord provides it, but his commission as a minister should not depend on it. Paul said, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:11-13).
A pastor can and should make ministry needs known, giving others the opportunity to support him freely. This is valid. However, he must never condition his ministry on financial support or resort to pressure tactics such as guilt or shaming, which coerce people to give grudgingly or by compulsion. That is wrong. Paul explained that giving must be done with the right attitude, for “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). If you ever feel coerced to give, don’t! Either give freely and cheerfully, or keep it for yourself. It is better not to give at all than to give grudgingly or under compulsion. Your attitude matters to God.
Dr. Steven R. Cook
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