AP

By Patrick Jason

It is always awkward to raise the issue of money matters in connection with ministry, but  Paul’s Epistles do raise the issue, and give clear guidance on it.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:8-11, the apostle Paul acknowledges his right to receive financial support from the church, but he does not make use of it. He refused to be a burden to anyone in the church at Thessalonica, and made himself an example by working night and day, to pay for his own food. This is not obligatory for all gospel workers, but it does provide an example for all involved in ministry.

In 1 Corinthians 9:12-18 Paul again acknowledges not only his own right, but also the rights of others who preach the gospel, that they should get their living by the gospel. But Paul again refuses to use his rights, because he did not want to hinder the gospel of Christ, by giving people the opportunity of accusing gospel ministers of being only in it for the money. He also didn’t want his boast to be taken away: that he preached the gospel free of charge. Indeed, he said he’d rather die than have anyone take away that from him! Paul recognises dangers in asking others to pay for his needs. Those dangers still exist today. We need to be aware of them when asking for money in the name of the gospel. Perhaps it’d be better in certain circumstances to join in the apostle’s boast: “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.”

In Paul’s last words to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:34-35, he declared: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ and to ‘help the weak’. Paul modelled that a shepherd-leader is to delight more in giving rather than receiving. Furthermore, Paul encouraged Christians to give to the poor and needy Christians in their ranks (2 Corinthians 8:14).

On the flip side, Scripture has strong warnings against burdening fellow Christians. Scripture warns if you fail to provide for your own family, your own household, you have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). Paul commands each Christian to bear his/her own burdens, rather than burdening others (Galatians 6:5). Many of God’s chosen ministers fell because of the love of money: Gehazi, assistant to the prophet Elisha, who tried to profit from the grace of God, and Judas Iscariot, who exchanged the Lord for 30 pieces of silver (2 Kings 5:20-27; Matthew 26:15). Gospel workers need to be above reproach on the matter of greed.

Expecting others to pay for our needs when we can otherwise provide for ourselves is a serious error for any Christian to make. Instead of burdening God’s church, we should work hard to provide for the church. By doing so, we may prove ourselves as ministering as Paul did: to share not only the gospel, but also our own lives (1 Thessalonians 2:8).