Preaching as a Career Option
|
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (1 Cor 9: 9 - 14 ESV)
|
Should God's ministers receive a wage?
Most of us have heard about the "money preachers". Watch late night television in the wee hours before dawn and you find any number of televangelists spruiking their "name-it-and-claim-it" gospel. They may agree with the verses shown above about paying the preacher his rightful dues, even though Paul the Apostle refused to use his.
Today in the Christian church we have two extremes. At one end of the wages spectrum many churches expect their workers to volunteer their services. The pastor may be low paid and needs a second and secular job to supplement his meager existence. Church helpers, deacons, singers and musos work for free, donating their skills and talents cheerfully.
However, at the other end of the spectrum we see the "money preachers". They gather in millions of dollars for themselves from needy and gullible congregations on the pretense that God will reward them tenfold. Of course, the only real beneficiaries are the preachers and their immediate families. Watching our late night religious programmes quickly shows the opulence of these anointed lives. What grieves me is the fact so much of the donated money comes from who are dirt poor and who cannot really afford to give in the first place.
One of these preachers wrote a book on "having your best life now". How true! In the next life at the resurrection of the dead they will suffer for all eternity in the lake of fire unless they repent now in this life. If not, they will really have their best life now.
|
PeterF
|
Total Views: 282
|
All submitted comments will be read, but may only be displayed at my discretion. Please keep
comments brief. Large comments, that are displayed, will be shortened to around
100 words. Your email address will not be displayed, only the senders' name will be shown.
|
|
MORE INSIGHTS
Read Other Reflections on the Bible
1 Cor 13: 8 - 13
Chapter 13 is the well known Scripture reading often read at wedding ceremonies. It is very meaningful in the new relationship between husband and wife. However, for the Christian love, true love, is the basis for eternal existence together now . . .
1 Cor 15: 50 - 57
At the end of time when Jesus returns we who are still here will be changed. Our new bodies will last forever and not grow old and die. Those who have died will be raised to life again with new bodies. This only applies to Christians whose names . . .
Mark 12: 1 - 12
We learn in the Bible that many of the Scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus because He didn't mince words exposing their hipocricy and evil. The message of this passage was directed at them but Jesus also spoke of His death and resurrection to His . . .
1 Cor 9: 9 - 14
Most of us have heard about the "money preachers". Watch late night television in the wee hours before dawn and you find any number of televangelists spruiking their "name-it-and-claim-it" gospel. They may agree with the verses shown above about . . .
1 Cor 2:12-14
In Paul's letter to the Corinthian church we read how the Holy Spirit given to Christians reveals God's truths and wisdom. These were decreed by God even before the creation of the world.
The truth about salvation, about His plan for a coming . . .
Joel 2: 28 - 32
The passage above is a favourite among prophecy teachers. There are two schools of thought on the interpretation of the text. The popular view is that it applies to all Christians in the days prior to Christ’s return. Some disagree and claim it . . .
Revelation 1: 10 – 11
These letters to the seven churches, in chapters 1 to 3, are written in a different style to the rest of the prophetic text of Revelation. We are not told why these particular towns were selected but perhaps the apostle John who wrote down the . . .
Hebrews 10: 26 - 39
Many Christians believe that once saved you are always saved. But the Bible tells us otherwise as we read here in chapter 10. What they fail to realise is this: God gave us a free will to choose our own destiny. God’s long-term plan was to create . . .
Luke 17: 23 - 36
Firstly, although we understand God to be a God of love, wanting all people to be saved, why did He bring destruction on those living at the time of Noah and Lot? How can that be love? Universalists think because God is Love He will relent . . .
1 Corinthians 12: 4 - 11
St Paul wrote to the Corinthian church so they would not be ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit. It was God’s plan for His people to live and work in unity with one purpose and have an overwhelming love for one another. These spiritual gifts were . . .
|
|