1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
If the laborer is worthy of his reward, then why don't you pay him?
Forget what your loving pastor said and let's see what the word of God actually says.
1Tim.5:17 Let the elders that rule(gr: proistemi: direct, not rule) well, be counted worthy of double honor....
honor:gr: timees: honor, respect, not wages.
The greek word opsonion means compensation, wages. It was not used in this verse. Do you suppose why?
Take note that it says elders, plural. Not a single top dog pastor.
Rewarding an oxe with cash?? Silly. His reward is grain. The reward for one who teaches well is respect.
Now moving on. If you say it's a full salary with perks here, then if you have an assembly of 20 folks and 15 are elders, and 10 of them 'teach well', deserving of DOUBLE honor, how the duce is this small fellowship going to afford paychecks equivalent to the average 40 hour work week wage, and then take each amount times two....double salary you know?
So if the average weekly income is 500.00 taken times two is 1000.00, taken times ten, ten good teachers you see, that would come out to 10,000.00 that the other ten folks would have to come up with every week to pay these ten their deserving double salaries...I mean they deserve it. Your words....'why not pay them'?....right?
Another severe, severe problem that will blow up the whole gathering...I mean to bits.
15 elders...right? Whose to say who the better teachers are. Uh oh....I see jealousy bubbling up, tension, hurt feelings, anger, splits. I mean you got 15 elders vying for that 1000.00 weekly pay check. Who gets to teach next? 'I'm not gonna be left out. It's my turn to teach. I'll prove I'm the best teacher in this man's army.'
Did I just here a loud explosion? BAM....CABOOM!!?!
So what was the question?.......oh yea 'Why don't you pay them'? Are you getting it yet? Be free, be blessed!
Oops! One more deal. In Acts 20, all the elders/pastors are commanded to work secular jobs so they can help take care of the poor.
If they are getting 1000.00 a week because they are good teachers, why are they told to keep their day jobs?
One more. The man that goes to war is the itenerent preacher like Paul. They deserve our support, though Paul refused it himself so as the gospel be not hindered.