Paid by God

"Everything in Israel that is specially set apart for the LORD also belongs to you. (Numbers 18:14 NLT)

My oldest daughter just got a new job with a large enough company that they presented her with a "benefits package."  As a part time worker, it's surprising that she gets any benefits at all.  The paperwork she received, however, clearly showed her the greater benefits she would receive should she stay with the company and end up working for them full time.

It got me thinking about my previous places of employment.  They had benefits packages, too.  My salary was only a fraction of what I was actually getting paid.  Medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, company-matching savings accounts are among the financial compensation I received for my long days of hard work.  The company was in business to make money.  It was only fair that I receive my share of the income.

Moving to full-time, paid ministry was quite an adjustment for me.  It wasn't because I made less money.  I walked in with my eyes wide open on that one.  "You won't get rich in ministry," I was told.  "But being called to ministry is not the same as being called to a vow of poverty.  You should be making what an average family in your area makes, so you can live where they live and raise your children with their children."

This was the way it worked in the Old Testament days, starting with Moses.  One of the twelve tribes, Levi, was set apart to do God's work.  They took care of the tabernacle, did the set-up/tear-down whenever they moved camp.  The performed all the offerings and sacrifices prescribed by God.  How did they get paid for this work by God?

And the LORD said to Aaron, "You priests will receive no allotment of land or share of property among the people of Israel. I am your share and your allotment. As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel.  (Numbers 18:20-21 NLT)

I've been encouraged more than once over the years to go "get a job" because the church is so strapped financially that they couldn't afford to pay me.  I even did that at times over the years to help the church make its bills.  I realize now, though, that I didn't help anything when I did that.  The work of the church suffered when I split my attention in this way.  I wasn't doing the work God called me to do.

I learned something else over the years.  The people in the church who "couldn't afford" to give or tithe to God's work really are just struggling with prioritizing God in their lives.  They can afford to keep the government workers employed by paying their taxes.  They can afford to keep the bankers employed by paying their mortgage.  They keep the food workers employed with their grocery and restaurant purchases.  But where do God's workers fit into this whole picture?

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!" (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NLT)

God's workers don't have the law on their side to force you to pay them like the government does.  God's workers don't have millions of dollars to spend on marketing programs like most other industries do.  They are simply working hard at sharing God's love and truth...with you.  That's their full-time job.

I'd like to ask you to consider doing something.  

1. Pray for the leaders in your church.  Thank God for their work and faithfulness.  Don't make them beg for their wages.  They serve you well.
2. Build a tithe (10%) of your income into your personal budget to give to the church with no strings attached.  It's lower than your current tax rate or the money you pay to big business for their marketing and advertising.
3. Encourage your friends at your church to do the same.

Please take the time to send an email or the link for this post to your friends in other churches.  Now, more than ever, the church needs to come together and build up it's leaders.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and action.

Your brother and fellow-worker,

Pete