HOW MUCH SHOULD WE PAY “THE PREACHER?”

Frankly Speaking,

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

I have become all things to all people

so that by all possible means I might save some.

I Corinthians 9:22 NIV

A Minister’s Benefits Package! ~ (Or, Quit Putting a Muzzle on that OX! 😊) Should ministers be paid? Most of us agree that the work ministers do requires some form of compensation. After all, most ministers have spent years of their lives preparing and training to effectively do the work of the ministry. 😊 They feed, encourage, & lead our families.

Now, “How much should a minister be paid?” is very important question. After all, we have seen ministers with jet planes, golden faucets in the bathroom, and huge houses. For every one of these people who have abused the office or title, there are many ministry families genuinely struggling to merely survive without going bankrupt.  The question ought to be, “What can we do to provide for the families of each member of our ministry team?” The question ought never be “How little can we pay them?”

What is our church budget? What is the economy like where the church is located? Many pastors and other staff members serve small churches.  Obviously, the annual budget determines how well a church can support a pastor and whether each minister is full-time or part-time.  One thing you may not realize is that pastors have no Social Security, no retirement, no dental plan, no healthcare coverage, and no life insurance. Most of our employers pay half of our Social Security and Medicare benefits before we ever see our pay checks. Many ministers retire with no plan. ☹

While this may be uncomfortable for some to think about, church leadership must wrestle with this to best support those called by God to lead the church. Dr. John Piper shares insights regrading ministerial compensation.

God shares His plan in I Corinthians 9:1-27. Let’s follow Him.😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

APOSTASY!

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on THE NAME OF THE LORD HIS GOD and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.                        II Kings 5:11-12 NLT

APOSTASY ~ I love the story of Naaman’s healing. That’s what it’s labeled in most BIBLES with a subtopic above the passage. However, I think it should be called the healing Naaman almost missed because of his pride and Unrealistic Expectations. Do you see it? Naaman says, “I expected him to…” He absolutely had his own version of what his healing would look like, and when he did not get things his way… he left mad. He was ready to walk away from GOD because GOD did not do things the way he expected THE LORD and CREATOR of the UNIVERSE to do it his way!

Have your Unrealistic Expectations made you mad enough to quit your FAITH? All too often, we get offended by someone and quit. GOD has not failed us! JESUS CHRIST’S Blood still washes away all of our sin. His mercies are new every morning.

28 Then JESUS said, “Come to ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take MY yoke upon you. Let ME teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For MY yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

How often have we said or thought, “I Expected GOD to do something different!” I have spoken to so many people who have shared their “the church failed me” story. Others, tell me how one or a few people did something to hurt them, so they left the faith. Have you ever been there, or are you there right now?

Brother and Sisters, THIS IS ME! We left home to “serve THE LORD!” I expected to see GOD do great things everywhere we went.  However, along the way some people got mad at me and told me to leave their church because they didn’t like my hair, my personality, my jokes, or my illustrations. What happened? I got mad at GOD because they didn’t like me. What have I missed because I let my Unrealistic Expectations get in the way? How many have we failed by not surrendering to GOD? LORD JESUS, please forgive us for our pride and arrogance. Thank you for YOUR grace and mercy through the pain, hurt, and self-pity. I love THEE, LORD JESUS! 😊 PLEASE ~ COME HOME!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Keith Green sang it so well… “I don’t want to fall away from YOU!”