Pay

For

Preachers

An Important Question

How should New Testament ministers be supported?

This is an important question. Why? Romans 10:14-15 gives us the answer.

ROMANS 10:14-15 NKJ
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15a And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

Preachers are needed so people can believe in Jesus; and they must be sent, or supported. If they are not adequately supported, the whole plan breaks down.

Is it God's will that the Gospel be preached to every person? Why has it not been done? Either those called to preach it have not been obedient, or they have not been sent (supported).

What good is an army if there is not enough money to mobilize it?

A. W. Rasmussen, in his book "The Last Chapter," tells what the Lord spoke to him in a vision: "My anointed servants are hindered by lack of funds. The tithe belongs to them. I have appointed it to them for their use. But my people have used the tithes for building great temples and cathedrals, and paying architects. They say, `What beautiful churches we have built for God!' They rob my anointed servants of the tithes, and use them instead to pay off mortgages and interest. And my Church goes unbuilt for lack of funds."

What Does The Lord Say About Support For His Ministers?

1 CORINTHIANS 9:14 NKJ
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

GALATIANS 6:6 NKJ
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

ROMANS 15:27 NKJ
27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

1 TIMOTHY 5:17-18 NKJ
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

1 TIMOTHY 5:17 TEV
17 The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Many think preachers should be poor, but Scripture says they should receive double pay! Many also think their giving is charity to help out the poor preacher.

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines charity as: kindly liberality and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; aid given to those in need; public provision for the relief of the needy.

The Lord views it differently. The minister works for Him. He did not expect ministers to be the needy or suffering, barely getting by. God's will is not that His ministers lack what they require to accomplish their task. (That is the devil's will, though!)

1 CORINTHIANS 9:4-14 NKJ
4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?
5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about?
10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

The key phrase is "even so" in verse 14. This refers to the way it worked under the Old Testament.

What The Old Testament Teaches

NUMBERS 18:21 NKJ
21 "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.

LEVITICUS 27:30 NKJ
30 `And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord.

Because the tithe is the Lord's, He can designate where it goes. Whether we agree with His designation will not change His mind.

NUMBERS 18:8-15 NKJ
8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron: "Here, I Myself have also given you charge of My heave offerings, all the holy gifts of the children of Israel; I have given them as a portion to you and your sons, as an ordinance forever.
9 "This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, every grain offering and every sin offering and every trespass offering which they render to Me, shall be most holy for you and your sons.
10 "In a most holy place you shall eat it; every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you.
11 "This also is yours: the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them to you, and your sons and daughters with you, as an ordinance forever. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
12 "All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the Lord, I have given them to you.
13 "Whatever first ripe fruit is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
14 "Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.
15 "Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Were God's Old Testament ministers poor? No. The Levites were well cared for. They had the best. "Even so," New Testament ministers should not be poor.

MARK 12:41-44 NKJ
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.
42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.
43 So He called His disciples to Him and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
44 "for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

This is recorded in the New Testament, but it happened under the Old Testament Law, because Christ had not yet risen from the dead.

Jesus commended this poor widow for her giving, though the money went to the religious leaders who opposed Him. Some of that money may even have been used to pay Judas to betray Jesus. We are not to judge whether we think the ministers deserve our tithes. God has already decreed that the tithe is theirs.

Ministers Tithed To Other Ministers

NUMBERS 18:26 NKJ
26 "Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: `When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the Lord, a tenth of the tithe.

NUMBERS 18:28 NKJ
28 `Thus you shall also offer a heave offering to the Lord from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Israel, and you shall give the Lord's heave offering from it to Aaron the priest.

If you are a minister who does not worship God by tithing -- what can you expect of others?

Sweet Aroma

PHILIPPIANS 4:10-19 NKJ
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Remember Paul wrote this from jail. How many preachers in jail have you sent support to recently?

What they sent to Paul in jail affected God (verse 18)! Only one other place in the New Testament, besides verse 18, refers to a sweet-smelling aroma (Christ's offering of Himself, Ephesians 5:2). One familiar with the Old Testament would immediately think back to the Old Testament sacrifices. For example:

LEVITICUS 1:9 NKJ
9 `but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

LEVITICUS 2:2 NKJ
2 `He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

LEVITICUS 2:9 NKJ
9 `Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

The only way mentioned in the New Testament that we can do something which is a sweet aroma to God, as the sacrifices of the Old Testament were, is by giving to a minister who has ministered to us. Paul was not ministering to them at that time -- because he was in jail. Yet they supported him, and it impressed and pleased God.

Do Not Preach For The Money

Following are four verses warning against preachers who are in it for the money. No one today enters the ministry to get rich; they become doctors or lawyers instead. How many rich preachers have you ever met?

1 TIMOTHY 3:3 NKJ
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

TITUS 1:7 NKJ
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

1 PETER 5:2 NKJ
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

TITUS 1:11 NKJ
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Why caution against someone interested in the money, if there was no money in it? The chance must have existed of being interested in preaching because of the amount of money they could make. Why would anyone greedy for money even consider becoming a pastor (bishop) unless there was money in it?

NOTE: When this was written in 1986 there were no rich preachers! Today, it has changed somewhat.

None Lacked

ACTS 4:34-35 NKJ
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

ACTS 4:37 NKJ
37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Not only were the lay people's needs met, but the apostles' were also. Note that all the money was given to the ministers (apostles), who gave it to others. None lacked.

Paul's Self-Support

Did Paul do it the correct way? Many think Paul never made a mistake. But if we believe his own writing in 1 Corinthians 9:12-15, we must admit he did not do it the way the Lord commanded!

1 CORINTHIANS 9:12-15 NKJ
12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

Even though the Lord commanded it (verse 14), Paul said he did it another way!

Acts 18:3 reveals that Paul's trade was a tentmaker.

Is it wrong for a preacher to work at another job? The Bible seems silent on this. However, 1 Timothy 4:15 does say to give yourself entirely to reading, exhortation, to doctrine, and to meditation.

2 TIMOTHY 2:4 NEB
4 A soldier on active service will not let himself be involved in civilian affairs; he must be wholly at his commanding officer's disposal.

2 TIMOTHY 2:4 Translator's
4 A soldier on active service who wants to keep in favour with his commanding officer does not become involved in the affairs of civilian life.

2 TIMOTHY 2:4 Barclay
4 No soldier on active service gets involved in civilian affairs; he has no other aim than to satisfy his commanding officer.

2 TIMOTHY 2:4 Wuest
4 No one when engaged in military service allows himself to become involved in civilian pursuits, in order that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

2 TIMOTHY 2:4 Anderson
4 When a man is serving in the army, he doesn't get tangled up in the everyday activities of making a living, because his aim is to please his commanding officer.

Does any scripture clearly say a preacher should never work at another job? If it is always wrong, why did God not rebuke Paul, or stop him from making tents?

We must be careful not to condemn anyone in this matter. Only Jesus is Head of the Church and has the wisdom to direct each member according to God's will. In short, we do not know everything. Therefore, we are not qualified to judge someone else.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:18 NKJ
18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Was Paul concerned about the reward of a faithful servant who would be told "Well done, good and faithful servant," or was he more concerned about what people might think of him?

Which is your biggest motivation?

2 CORINTHIANS 11:7-12 NKJ
7 Did I commit sin in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what was lacking to me the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.

Is it God's will for a minister to boast about what he does (verse 10)? Why did Paul write to these people (1 Corinthians 9:14) that the Lord commanded something be done, and then say that he did not do it, and would not do it?

1 CORINTHIANS 9:15-16 NKJ
15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

Should a preacher boast, except in what the Lord does?

2 CORINTHIANS 12:14-15 NKJ
14 Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

This is the attitude all true ministers of Christ have. They are not interested in hurting people but in helping them. That is why they can be tempted to do it another way than the way the Lord commanded (1 Corinthians 9:14). This happens when a minister thinks of it only as his support, not as worship of God by the people he has ministered to.

If we are to be faithful ministers of God, we must instruct people to give to God, regardless of their financial condition. We do well to remember Elijah telling the widow, about to starve, to give him the last food she had (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Pay Whoever Fed You The Word Of God

The New Testament clearly teaches an obligation for those receiving ministry to support the one who ministered to them.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:11-12 NKJ
11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
12a If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

GALATIANS 6:6 NKJ
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

ROMANS 15:27 NKJ
27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

PHILIPPIANS 4:16 NKJ
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

Paul wrote this (Philippians 4:16) after he had preached to them.

Pay Wages

Scripture uses the term "pay," or "wages" for ministers. Wages are a payment, not a gift.

1 TIMOTHY 5:17 TEV
17 The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

1 TIMOTHY 5:18 NKJ
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

LUKE 10:7 NKJ
7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

A gift is optional. A payment is required (or should be done.)

ROMANS 4:4 NKJ
4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

A Right

1 CORINTHIANS 9:4-7 NKJ
4 Do we have no right to eat and drink?
5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

1 CORINTHIANS 9:12 NKJ
12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

A right means something due, not an optional gift.

A Duty

Something that is a duty cannot also be a gift. A gift is not a duty.

ROMANS 15:27 NKJ
27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

Pay Tithes

HEBREWS 7:9 NKJ
9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,

It said they paid tithes. Jesus also spoke of paying tithes.

MATTHEW 23:23 NKJ
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

NOTE: I have left this section above on "Pay Tithes" as it was originally written in 1986, but now I realize the idea of "paying" tithes is not supported by the Greek New Testament. Although the word "paid" is found in many English translations of Hebrews 7:9, it is a word added by the translators, as the Greek New Testament just uses one word which means "tithed." The only other use of this word in the New Testament is in Hebrews 7:6, where it is translated "received tithes," showing it does not mean paid. Similarly, the single word translated as "pay tithe" in Matthew 23:23 is used four times in the New Testament, translated by the KJV as "pay tithe," "tithe," "give tithe," and "take tithe." So the word "pay" was simply added by the translators.

What this means is that we have no New Testament scriptures that show tithes are an obligation to be paid, as opposed to something that is given. The term "pay tithes" or "paid tithes" is actually not in Scripture anywhere!

Should All Giving Go Through A Local Church?

It is simple, orderly, and may avoid some abuse. Local ministers and their fruits are more easily known by the giver. But, what scripture says it should be done that way? None.

Galatians 6:6 does not say: share with the organization where you were taught. It says share all good things with him who teaches.

It would be ideal to channel all our tithes through a local church. But problems can appear when you make this into a "law." Some pastors, like any other people, are selfish. They may not have the vision, or desire, to reach all those God has given the desire to a traveling minister to reach.

Is it God's plan that the pastor, or governing board, of a local church control all God's funds designated for His ministers? This creates a bottleneck. As a result, traveling and media ministers have had to devise other ways to raise support. With the help of worldly experts, many have come up with programs, techniques, and schemes to get people to give to them. This has led to many abuses. If some churches and pastors had not been selfish to begin with, some of this may not have happened.

It is not always spoken, but there is often friction between pastors and traveling ministers about finances. The only real solution is for both to walk in faith for their finances, and to walk in love toward each other. For this to happen, the playing field should be level. This requires that Christians be taught that all ministers are to be supported by the tithes. People will not do what they are not taught to do. So we must teach what the Bible says on this subject.

Pastors should teach and encourage support of other ministers. The Body of Christ can only grow as it should when every member contributes their part. So any part stunted for lack of funds ultimately affects us all adversely.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:26 NKJ
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Ideally, you should be fed spiritually, nurtured, and shepherded in a local church, where you also worship God with your tithes and offerings. Then, in addition, you could give offerings to others.

Though this is simple and easy to understand, (and gets the support of most pastors), it ignores some realities. Such as, traveling ministers, outreach ministers, retired ministers, and media ministers. This forces many of them, who are not called to pastor a local congregation, to start one so they can have support.

If you have been blessed spiritually by ministers not supported by your local church, and 100% of your giving goes to your local church, are you obeying Scripture? No.

All those who have blessed you spiritually, by teaching you the Word of God, are ministers and deserve the tithe. So part of your tithe should go to them.

If 100% of your funds go to a local church, which uses them all to minister to you -- then you are selfish. (Of course, not all churches operate that way, but some do. However, most churches do spend most of their budget to provide ministry to their own people.) God's blessing will not be on that because it is not walking in love.

A local pastor or a governing board of a local church should not be expected to determine where you (and all the other church members) have been blessed and fed spiritually, and then to give appropriate funds to those ministries. Only you, with prayerful guidance from the Holy Spirit, know who has blessed your life spiritually (whether you received it by tape, book, radio, television, or in person).

Also, as organizations (whether a denomination, a local church, or a missions agency) grow older, they tend to become more bureaucratic: more rules, more regulations, more self-centered, more self-perpetuating -- instead of being open to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Too many times an organization is controlled, so little (and sometimes none) of the money goes to those ministering. This happens more often than many realize.

God is not interested in supporting organizations. No organization ever preached a message anointed by the Holy Spirit, or laid hands on the sick and saw them recover. Only people do that. God intends for the people who get the job done to have the funds to do it. Organizations and bureaucracy usually prevent this from happening smoothly.

God does desire strong local churches, and that requires money be received there. Having pastored many years, I understand the pastor's perspective.

Outside ministers, especially national media ministers, are so slick in their presentation. Also, their needs and projects are usually so large and inspiring -- on paper and from a distance, at least -- that the local work and minister pale by comparison.

The national ministers are so professional, and so good, that the local pastor's preaching and teaching, by comparison, seems poor. However, there is more to ministry than just how slick your publications look. Being there to pray and counsel with you personally, being there for the wedding and the funeral -- all these should be remembered.

Instead of getting into fear, the local pastor should teach his people the truth. Teach them how to give and who to give to. Teach them not to be sucked in by emotional appeals. Teach them to give correctly.

Each minister should remember that they are only a part of the Body of Christ, and that others' ministries are important, too.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:12 NKJ
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-22 NKJ
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

If, for quality control purposes, a local church requires each member, or worker, to tithe there so their commitment can be known, members should be able to designate other ministers to whom some of their tithe would go.

NOTE: I was pastor of a local church when this was written.

Tithe Where You Receive The Word

Using the simple principle of tithing where you have been fed the Word, eliminates so many problems. If they helped you, they can help others, also. Unproductive ministries will not be supported and will cease. False or unproductive ministers will not con you into giving, because you would only give after they have fed you spiritually. So the minister has to walk by faith and give out the Word of God freely. Then, only if it is anointed by the Holy Spirit and helps you, will you support his ministry. Then, with your support, he can minister to others, just as he has to you.

This principle gives all ministers an equal chance. Instead of the local pastor getting all the tithe, while those called by God to other ministries barely get by -- it becomes a matter of who delivers the goods. If they ministered to you -- support them. They will probably minister to someone else with your support.

Giving out of sympathy or because of their need can easily set you up to be conned. Emotional appeals to make you feel guilty for not giving can be used by unspiritual, or even dishonest people.

Giving because of emotional appeals encourages mediocre ministry. It is fine to give alms (not tithe) to the poor. But do not support ministers who do not minister well enough to prosper. That supports mediocrity. Whatever you support, you get more of it. If you give every time they cry, they will cry more often.

Giving to ministers based on need perpetrates inferior ministry.

Matthew 25:16-28 is a parable that supports giving to those who have produced -- not those with the least, who may be in need.

Do not give your tithe to support any project. Or, in return for any "free gift." That is not tithing to God. It is purchasing something or maybe giving to the poor. Projects are fine, but there is no scriptural reason to put the tithe into them (even if it is a church building!).

Tithing should be an expression of worship and thanks to God for what He is to you, and what He has done for you by giving you His Word. So that His Word will continue being proclaimed, God ordained the tithe, which is His, should go to the minister who brought you His Word.

Our concern should only be: what does Scripture teach. If we cannot support our positions clearly from Scripture, we should not push them. Then we should only say that this is what we think -- and not promote it as "thus says the Lord."

What Is The Storehouse?

Many ministers stress that all the tithes should go to the local church which is the "storehouse." It is easy to understand why pastors teach this. But many traveling ministers also teach it. They may be concerned about the goodwill of pastors, who they rely on to invite them to minister in churches. Or, they may have never studied the subject themselves, and are only repeating what others have taught.

MALACHI 3:8-10 NKJ
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, `In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Who was the food for? Those who ministered. God said bring it in so those who minister may have provision.

What is the "storehouse" mentioned in Malachi 3:10? It is a word used 80 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It means treasure, treasury, or storehouse. Look at Nehemiah 12:44, where the same Hebrew word is used, to get a good understanding of what it was.

NEHEMIAH 12:44 NKJ
44 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.

In those days, tithes were brought to one location, because there was only one Temple. The storehouse was the place where the priests went to receive their income.

Obviously, we cannot apply this literally today. Using the principle, we should bring our tithes where today's ministers are, so they can have their needs met and be able to minister.

Retired Ministers

What about a retired minister? First Corinthians 9:14 tells us that ministers today are to be supported "even so" as they were in the Old Testament. The Levites made enough that they could retire at 50 years of age, after only 25 years of active service.

NUMBERS 8:23-26 NKJ
23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
24 "This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting;
25 "and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more.
26 "They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties."

Not many true ministers ever desire to retire completely. However, many do reach the point where they need to reduce their responsibilities and activities. Older ministers can be a wonderful resource with their experience and wisdom. They can at least spend their time praying, even till their death. Most of them should be kept on staff at a local church with an appropriate level of work, and support.

They should have received enough money during the active days of their ministry to continue to sustain them as they slow down. If not, the Body of Christ still is obligated to provide for them, as unto the Lord. Those they ministered to should continue to bless them -- no matter how long ago it was.

Investments

Should preachers have any investments? Should they take part of their earnings and invest them for a possible time of retirement, or at least a time of slowing down?

What is the difference between a job and an investment? A job is not done unless you do it. An investment, at least to some extent, works by itself without full-time attention.

The question really extends to the wider sphere of all Christians. If other Christians should, then preachers should probably, also.

In Old Testament times the Levites were given land around their cities in which to keep their livestock. These livestock were like an investment for them. They were certainly not sustained by them, and their job was certainly not herding livestock. Yet, they had livestock, which reproduces and multiplies by itself.

The thing to watch is: getting too involved in such things and spending too much time or thought on them. Or beginning to trust in them, instead of in God.

Missionaries

"Missionary" is not a word used in the Bible. We use it in the sense of one sent -- which is the meaning of the word "apostle." However, everyone we consider a missionary is not an apostle. They may be any ministry gift. They may pastor, teach, evangelize, etc. Just because they minister on a foreign field does not make them an apostle, or even more spiritual. We should send out our best though, if we want to see the Gospel proclaimed to every creature.

ROMANS 10:14-15 NKJ
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"

The ideal way is for a church to send and support someone from their congregation as a missionary. If they are large enough to support a local Associate Minister -- they could fully support a missionary.

There is no New Testament record of a missionary, or any minister, raising support from churches other than where they had ministered.

Traveling Ministers

LUKE 10:7 NKJ
7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

MATTHEW 10:10 NKJ
10 "nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

How were the disciples supported in Jesus' day? Jesus supported them directly when they were with Him. When He sent them out to preach, He expected them to teach those they ministered to, to support them.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:14-16 NKJ
14 For we are not extending ourselves beyond our sphere (thus not reaching you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.

He had hope (verse 15) that as their faith grew they would "greatly enlarge" him to preach the gospel in other places (verse 16). This means financial support.

3 JOHN 1:1-8 NKJ
1 THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,
6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Verses 6 and 7 speak of sending ministers on their journey in a manner worthy of God. What would that be? Certainly not the poor way it has often been done!

The New Testament proposes no difference between the way a pastor or a traveling minister is supported. To say they should be supported differently is an arbitrary, human idea.

Media Ministers

How should the ministers who use mass media, whether print or electronic, be supported? The same way as any other minister. They should be supported by those who they have ministered to.

This is no limit imposed on a Christian on how much they can give. On the contrary, those who give more will receive more. The more people are ministered to, the more they should be able to give. The more they give, they more they should have, to give in the future.

Only Two Groups Of Ministers

Regarding support, all ministers fit into two groups:

Local. Those whose primary place of ministry is in a certain local church.

Extra-local. Those whose primary place of ministry is outside or beyond the area of a certain local church.

Extra-local ministers includes both:

Stationary. Such as a Bible translator, or a missionary Bible School teacher. Even a pastor of a mission church just beginning. (When the mission church grows enough, the pastor would be supported by it as a local minister.)

Traveling. In their home country or a foreign one. Whether evangelizing, teaching, or preaching to churches. This would include most media ministers.

Apostles are an extra-local ministry. Prophets and teachers can be either. Evangelists can also be either, but are usually extra-local. Pastors are local.

Anyone who has travelled knows it costs more to travel than to stay at one location. God knows that, also. Surely, His plan would not apportion traveling ministers less than local stationary ministers -- as we have usually done!

One Proposal

Each Christian should worship God with at least a tithe of their income. It should be given to those who have brought them the Word of God. If each church member tithed, there would be plenty for all ministers. This has been the biggest part of the problem.

Each minister should tithe his income to other ministers who have ministered to him.

Each local church should give at least a tithe of its income to extra-local ministers who have ministered there. (Scripture does not teach this, but the principle is scriptural.) The church should inform the people who it includes.

Following this would provide adequate support for at least two extra-local ministers for every ten local churches. In addition, each church should support missionaries.

Conclusion

The New Testament clearly teaches one principle about ministerial support: give to whoever has ministered to you. That is acceptable worship pleasing to God.

If what you are doing does not line up with Scripture, it does not matter how long you have done it that way, or what anyone thinks, you should change.

Whatever you do, you will account for it to the Lord Jesus someday. So, ask Him for direction and courage to do His will. Then study His Word and make sure what you do, as much as possible, lines up with Scripture.