1 Corinthians 9:7-10 “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law same the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.”

 I don’t believe Paul’s pictures are hard to get. When people work at something, they expect to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This is “fair.” This is right. There may be things for which we “volunteer.” But you would likely not show up for work anymore if your employer was making money but you got no paycheck. You would likely stop planting a garden if one hundred percent of your produce were confiscated every year. You might drop out of school if they told you they were keeping no record of your GPA, would not acknowledge your attendance, provided no graduation or diploma, and had nothing to offer for securing employment at the end.

That is how it works in the material, physical, secular world. Does this really have application to spiritual life? God established the principle of paying those who serve his people spiritually as far back as Moses, writer of the first Bible books. It applies to people and work in general, and that means it applies to those whose work is spiritual as well.

This, then, is the conclusion: “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?” Those whose work is teaching and preaching God’s word should be compensated for their work. This is how Paul says it a few verses later: “…the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (vs. 14).

That’s the principle. Now here’s the problem: All pastors and all laypeople are essentially sinful, selfish creatures. We are all familiar with the offense and scandals caused by greedy “ministers” who have used their following to fund lavish, indulgent lifestyles. One televangelist told his audience he needed them to donate $54 million so that he could purchase a private luxury jet with a 6000-mile range. It would be the fourth aircraft in his fleet.

He says he needed it to preach the gospel. Truth is, such nonsense creates a barrier for the gospel. A man with whom I had a conversation while I was canvassing his neighborhood had a few questions about my church: “What kind is it? Where is it located? How many attend?” Then he made the comment, “So you want me to come so that you can build up your little church.” His implication didn’t even strike me at first. I think he was saying, “You don’t really care about me. I would be feather in your cap, a notch on your belt, someone to attend and pay and make you more successful.” Why do people think that way about pastors? Because sinful, selfish ministers, and not just the ones on TV, have talked and acted in ways that made their ministries all about the money.

On the other hand, members of churches, and people in the general public, are infected with the same spiritual disease. Many give to support their own spiritual care somewhat grudgingly, or not at all. Historically the average pastor has struggled financially. One woman I know, who grew up in a pastor’s home, said that when she was a little girl (1950’s) she used to dream about chewing meat. The average minister in the United States today is paid $30,000 to $40,000 less per year than people with a similar level of education. On average, clergy make just a little more than a high school graduate working full time.

I am not saying this to complain. My church pays me something close to the average person with a college degree. If a congregation and its pastor want to do this God’s way, then they will work out an arrangement that allows the minister to support his family without creating a scandal–either because he is living in obscene luxury, or because the church is stingy and keeps him just above the poverty line.

I once heard my grandfather say, “The pastor is not in it for the money.” That is true, or should be. This is one profession in which there is no honor, and some shame, for being at the top of the pay grade. But Paul’s message to the Corinthians takes up the other side: For their financial support, preachers have the right to receive an income, too.