Should Christians get paid for their service to the Lord?
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Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
This is speaking of hypocrites that like to give glory to themselves that they have their reward on Earth but will not receive a heavenly reward.
But this can apply to the world that love riches, and luxuries, and to enjoy fleshy pleasures, and the finer things in life, and neglect there is a God in favor of exalting themselves, and neglect the poor and needy and care about themselves, that they have their reward on Earth but will not receive the heavenly reward because they are all about enjoying pleasures of the flesh and not of the spiritual.
Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
This is speaking of hypocrites that like to give glory to themselves that they have their reward on Earth but will not receive a heavenly reward.
But this can apply to the world that love riches, and luxuries, and to enjoy fleshy pleasures, and the finer things in life, and neglect there is a God in favor of exalting themselves, and neglect the poor and needy and care about themselves, that they have their reward on Earth but will not receive the heavenly reward because they are all about enjoying pleasures of the flesh and not of the spiritual.
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I think that most Christians hope and/or assume that someone else is picking up the tab for those ministers (servants). I've been around those who eat out frequently, albeit not at meals, and they boast of their big tips to the waitresses and buffet plate collectors. However, they can go years and won't donate a dime to the preacher who spent a work week preparing for the funeral services and weekly messages, visiting the nursing homes and hospitals. Paul says a lot about giving as some have already mentioned. John the Baptist was eating things they teach survivalists to find if you are starving. How many took care of his needs? We don't know, but there are plenty of folks today in denominational palaces with chandeliers and a pipe organ that will put down the pastor who opens his home or rents a store front to be a blessing to others. I am not criticizing you, but I could many that I've known. I can't see anything on him losing his rewards if he is true to God's Word and has right motivation.
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1Corinthians 9:3
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1Corinthians 9:4
Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Corinthians 9:5
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Corinthians 9:6
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1Corinthians 9:7
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Corinthians 9:8
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Corinthians 9:9
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Corinthians 9:10
Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Corinthians 9:12
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Corinthians 9:13
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Corinthians 9:14
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1Corinthians 9:4
Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Corinthians 9:5
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Corinthians 9:6
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1Corinthians 9:7
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Corinthians 9:8
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Corinthians 9:9
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Corinthians 9:10
Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Corinthians 9:12
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Corinthians 9:13
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Corinthians 9:14
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
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A wage is not a reward. It is payment for service rendered.
However, to your question: it depends upon the person's calling and direction from the Lord. For example:
1 Thess 2:6 "Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ."
The "we" here refers to the writers of the letter; Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
Paul, and presumably others, denied the right to receive payment from those they raised in the Lord. It was their right to do so but they chose not to exercise it. No doubt, by their choice, they received a better witness.
See 1 Corinthians 9 for reference: https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/1co/9/1/p1/s_1071001
However, to your question: it depends upon the person's calling and direction from the Lord. For example:
1 Thess 2:6 "Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ."
The "we" here refers to the writers of the letter; Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
Paul, and presumably others, denied the right to receive payment from those they raised in the Lord. It was their right to do so but they chose not to exercise it. No doubt, by their choice, they received a better witness.
See 1 Corinthians 9 for reference: https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/1co/9/1/p1/s_1071001
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THE EARLY CHURCH shared what they had so the work of God could go forth. Read in Acts. As a minister, I have a full-time job outside of the church and take no salary, pay, or fringe benefits like the use of a Church CC. That being said, my pastor, who has family living here in CA, makes less than 30 annually, well below the mid-income for this state. Inflation, cost of living, and the word of God must still happen. This has nothing to do with the eternal work of God as a reward but with the supplying of one's need by the Lord through the people of God who give.
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Should a Christian get paid? That depends. They have the right, but should that right be exercised? The apostle Paul went out of his way to preach the gospel at no charge, supporting himself through his own trade.
I think a big problem arises when people start expecting to get their living through service in the body of Christ. Everyone must be wary of the deceitfulness of riches and especially the shepherds of the flock; they're our examples. 1 Timothy 3:2-3 says: "Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." So it's a balancing act really. An servant of the Lord should be content with whatever he's offered and not strive to get wealthy from the gospel.
Unfortunately, a lot of greedy people have become professional Christians, caring nothing for the flock but feeding them on whatever brings to themselves the highest price.
I think a big problem arises when people start expecting to get their living through service in the body of Christ. Everyone must be wary of the deceitfulness of riches and especially the shepherds of the flock; they're our examples. 1 Timothy 3:2-3 says: "Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." So it's a balancing act really. An servant of the Lord should be content with whatever he's offered and not strive to get wealthy from the gospel.
Unfortunately, a lot of greedy people have become professional Christians, caring nothing for the flock but feeding them on whatever brings to themselves the highest price.
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If you do a study of the Scriptures (and early NT Church history), on finances you will find that the body of Christ (The Church) has departed FAR from those practices of the early Church, especially The Church in western democracies and those in countries with some degree of wealth!
In wealthy western democratic countries The Church (in general) is wealthy and well connected politically, BUT lacks God's Power and Presence!
This is NOT a coincidence!
In wealthy western democratic countries The Church (in general) is wealthy and well connected politically, BUT lacks God's Power and Presence!
This is NOT a coincidence!
