We are now in an age where service for God comes with a requirement for a salary. I am challenged by those who will not exercise their gifts unless it comes with a check. When did we get here? When did it become a career and not a calling? Have we now taken our spiritual gifts and turned them into a secular reward?
Don’t get me wrong. I am not opposed to blessing people who serve and utilize their gifts for the betterment of worship. I am opposed to when it is done with the wrong motive. I have heard people say that church is a business. If that is the case then that is why our churches are suffering because we have substituted the Holy Spirit with a worldly structure. Matthew 21:13 states, “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Jesus was rebuking them for profiting off of those who came in the temple.
If pastor’s are pastoring for money…wrong motive. If musicians are playing for money…wrong motive. If soloist are singing for money…wrong motive. If ministry leaders are leading for an honorarium or love gifts…wrong motives.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with receiving these things, but if your main reason is to get paid, then we are out of line. If salary was the requirement for me as a pastor, I would have changed my profession a long time ago. I was called to this ministry. That means that if I have to preach without compensation then I am called to do that. If I have to serve beyond my office hours, then I am called to do that. What I have learned is that when you work for the Lord…He will bless you in ways you would never imagine. If God has blessed you with a gift or talent…you should bless the church and the Kingdom with that talent.
If I ask my son or daughter to do chores around the house and they reply, “after you pay me”, I may be inclined to not spare the rod. How dare they ask for compensation for a responsibility that is reasonable for what they have been given. Romans 12:2 states, “This is your reasonable service”. After all…my children live under the covering of blessings that they did not manifest and so do we.
If it had not been for the Lord on my side. Tell me where would I be!
#dokechronicles
Thank you Rev. O for being bold enough to share this. I believe this is the root of what is destroying churches today. The motives of many Pastors is wrong. In time they will have to reconcile with a sandal wearing, walking, Robe wearing, no where to lay His head, Lord and Savior. When the motives are wrong then the blessings that come from God are not present. Be blessed.