Giving To Ministry Gifts
1 Corinthians 9:7-11 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
7 [Consider this:] What soldier at any time serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of the fruit of it? Who tends a flock and does not partake of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say this only on human authority and as a man reasons? Does not the Law endorse the same principle?
9 For in the Law of Moses it is written, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn. Is it [only] for oxen that God cares?
10 Or does He speak certainly and entirely for our sakes? [Assuredly] it is written for our sakes, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest.
11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Growing up in a traditional church, I didn’t have an understanding about paying pastors or ministry gifts. I can remember having a musical program and inviting a group to sing four songs It never occurred to me that I should have given them an offering for coming.
I sang in choirs in my church as well as college. Money was never exchanged. After I became part of another church organization, that is when I learned about paying pastors, traveling ministries and church staff.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church of Corinth to bring correction. Here in the passage in I Corinthians 9, Apostle Paul starts out pointing out that a person in an army doesn’t pay for their expenses. When a soldier enlists for the army, he/she is given a salary, benefits and a place to stay. When a farmer plants a field of crops, that farmer is entitled to ear from the harvest from that filed. So, Apostle Paul is teaching the church at Corinth that when he comes to give spiritual food to the church, isn’t right that he receives from them material benefits?
How do we apply what Paul is communicating to the church in Corinth today in our churches? We must provide material substance for the ministry gifts that supply spiritual substance to us. A pastor should be provided an adequate salary along with benefits. That salary can be determined by the size of the church and his/her responsibilities. When a church brings in a traveling minister, they need to be compensated also.
We can’t leave out the musicians and choir directors. They are using their gifts and talents to help establish an atmosphere where the Word of God can flow forth unhindered and the hearts of the people are ready to receive the word.
I have seen so many churches not provide anything for musicians. Recently, I attended a church that had a musical. There were many musical groups that got up to sing and minister in song to us. At the end of the program, the pastor made an appeal asking for a drummer to come and play for the service on the next Sunday. The pastor then added, “This is a volunteer position.” I just shook my head!!
We in the Body of Christ must get a revelation on supplying material substance to our ministers and support staff like musicians and administrative staff. Yes, there are positions that have people that volunteer but in order to have a faithful and consistent core of workers, they must be paid for their talent and time.
What I shared with you, just like myself at one time, may be new to you. Open up your heart and let the Lord speak to you about giving in this area.
Let us all strive to obey what I Corinthians 9 is instructing us to do. We will be blessed for obeying these instructions.
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