Always Abounding - Spring 2020

“He’s just preaching on money so he can
get his hands on it.”
Hopefully, you are not like the
person described in the previous
paragraph! Not only is a pastor
on call 24 hours a day, but he carries the
burdens of each member. What we all
must realize is that dealing with the hearts
and lives of people is more complex and
sobering than what most individuals face
at work. A pastor does not leave his work
at the office—he brings it home with him.
Never complain that a pastor gets paid
with part of the church offerings because
that is how God designed it—“Even so hath
the Lord ordained that they which preach
the gospel should live of the gospel” (1
Corinthians 9:14). Every preacher should
be paid for his work with funds raised from
God’s people.
How much should a pastor be paid?
We are not told, but Paul instructed
Timothy, “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 Timothy 5:17-18). The man
of God is worthy of double honor. The
word worthy means “to be entitled to
something,” and honor refers to value or
money paid. Rather than being despised
or belittled for being a pastor, every man of
God should be rewarded, “especially they
who labour in the word and doctrine.” If
you thought that “double honour” merely
referred to respect, you were mistaken.
Later in the passage, we see that “worthy
of his reward” is synonymous with “worthy
of double honour.” Since God commands
churches to reward their preachers well,
they should make sure they do it.
I
heard of a church that wanted to find
a way to give double honor to their
pastor. So, the deacons got together
and figured out the average of their
salaries and doubled it, and that doubled
amount became the pastor’s new salary.
Perhaps that was extravagant, but at least
they managed to show their pastor that
they cared. Obviously, that would lead to
problems if a pastor began stacking the
deacon board with the richest men in the
church! Although the Bible does not say
how much to pay a pastor, it does imply that
he should be rewarded well for his labor.
A pastor should not be “greedy of filthy
lucre,” but he should not be condemned
for receiving a good salary. If you have a
good pastor, count it a privilege that part
of your tithes and offerings support him
financially. Having a poor pastor is not a
badge of honor. On the contrary, it is a
shameful testimony if a church lets their
pastor needlessly struggle.
(Dave Olson is the Director of Missions for Fairhaven
Baptist College.)
Alumni Breakfast
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dr. david sorenson
module course
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