Financial Support Prescribed, But Financial Burdens Should Be Avoided

The Support of Gospel Ministers

The Right of Gospel Ministers to Receive Support

(1) "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they 
provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to 
house." (Luke 10:7 ESV)

The Lord Jesus Himself teaches us that those who carry out the work of 
the gospel are laborers. As laborers, they have a direct, divinely given 
right to receive their physical livelihood from those to whom they minister.

(2) "If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we 
reap material benefits from you?" (1 Corinthians 9:11 ESV)

Those who provide spiritual nourishment to a congregation have a clear, 
biblical right to receive physical and material support from that same 
congregation. Providing support is not an act of charity, but a matter 
of simple justice.

(3) "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 
Corinthians 9:13-14 ESV)

Just as God provided for the Old Testament priests through the offerings 
of the temple, the Lord Jesus has commanded that those who preach the 
gospel should obtain their living directly from their gospel ministry.

(4) "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, 
especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture 
says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 
'The laborer deserves his wages.'" (1 Timothy 5:17-18 ESV)

Elders who faithfully guide the church and labor diligently in preaching 
and teaching are worthy of "double honor." The context, which references 
both the muzzled ox and the laborer's wages, makes it plain that this 
honor includes adequate financial support.

PROPOSITION: The Scriptures clearly teach that those who preach, teach, 
and labor in the gospel have a divinely appointed right to be 
financially supported by those who benefit from their ministry.

The Duty of Gospel Ministers to Not Be Burdening to the Congregation

(1) "For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and 
day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to 
you the gospel of God." (1 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV)

While ministers have a clear right to support, they must also possess a 
deep desire to avoid placing an undue financial burden on the believers. 
There are times when a minister should choose to work with his own hands 
to prevent being a burden.

(2) "nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it, but with toil 
and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any 
of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in 
ourselves an example to imitate." (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 ESV)

A gospel minister who works to support himself does not forfeit his 
right to support. Rather, he may voluntarily lay aside his right in 
order to set a godly example of industriousness, selflessness, and 
sacrifice.

(3) "What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the 
gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the 
gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:18 ESV)

Ministers of the gospel must never insist on their rights to the 
detriment of the gospel. A true servant of Christ is willing to offer 
his services free of charge when doing so prevents any hindrance to the 
message of salvation.

(4) "shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, 
not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for 
shameful gain, but eagerly;" (1 Peter 5:2 ESV)

The elders of the church must never perform their duties for the sake of 
financial gain. While they have a right to be supported, their 
motivation must be a sincere eagerness to serve God and care for His 
flock, completely free from greed.

PROPOSITION: The Scriptures teach with equal clarity that gospel 
ministers must never be driven by a desire for financial gain, and they 
must be fully prepared to lay aside their right to support to avoid 
becoming a financial burden to the church.

The Biblical Balance

(1) The congregation has a sacred obligation to support those who 
minister to them spiritually, so that the ministers can focus fully on 
the work of preaching and teaching.

(2) The minister has a sacred obligation to keep his heart free from 
greed and to ensure that his desire for support never becomes a heavy, 
oppressive burden to the local church.

(3) When both the church and the minister follow these plain biblical 
commands, the minister is cared for, the church is not burdened, and the 
gospel goes forward without hindrance.

-- 
Good News †

Through the cross, Christ erased the spiritual debt we owed to God for 
our rebellion (Colossians 2:14), a reality established when God raised 
Him from the dead (Romans 1:4). God can now righteously pardon our sins 
(Romans 3:26) and exempt us from the coming divine judgment (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). Salvation cannot be earned; it is a free gift for 
believers (Romans 6:23). Trust in Jesus and invoke His name to be saved 
(Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation