God Ordained that the Church Support the Pastor

I Corinthians 9:1-15


Some questioned Paul's apostleship for various reasons. He was not married. He and Barnabas both worked at secular jobs. They got support from other churches, but were not supported by the local church. Other teachers required the church support them fully. Like all the other issues addressed in I Corinthians, this issue arises in modern churches.

Some people feel that the church is always asking for money, and some are. Some really get upset that a pastor doesn't quit all outside work and depend on the church. At least one group teaches that it is wrong for the pastor to be paid by the church. Paul has been questioned on several of these points.

"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? 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? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

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? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 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? 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.

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 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.

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? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void." (I Corinthians 9:1-15)

Paul had the same qualifications as the other apostles, in that he had seen and been taught by the Lord himself. He was not less qualified than any of the others according to II Corinthians 11:5. Those who had never known Paul might well question his authority, but those at Corinth should not, having received the Lord through his ministry, experiencing the Holy Spirit working in their own lives, and seeing him act in those around them.

I have become concerned how often we try to give assurance of salvation. That assurance is the Holy Spirit's job, according to Romans 8:16. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." If the Holy Spirit is not there to do the job, they are not saved, as Romans 8:9 makes clear. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." False assurance may well prevent a person from understanding their need of salvation and hinder their being saved. Having experienced the Holy Spirit in their own lives, the Corinthian Christians were themselves evidence of Paul's apostleship.

As an apostle, Paul had the same physical needs as any other person. Food and drink is essential. While neither he nor Barnabas were married, both had the right to be, and if they were, their wives would also have physical needs that must be met, and they had the same right for the church to support them as any other apostle. When someone does work that is of value to another, they deserve reward for doing it. Only if there is no real benefit of what one hears should there be no pay. Even an ox should profit from his efforts, and God planned that those who do his work should reap the physical benefits as well.

As a missionary, Paul's needs would continue, and he did not want his need for an income to stand in the way of the Corinthians receiving Christ. It could well appear to unbelievers that his teaching was just a scam to receive money without work. As a result, he worked at a secular job, and accepted help from other churches, to prevent this from being an issue with those who were not saved. He declares that in receiving help from those other churches, "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service," in II Corinthians 11:8.

For those who have been saved and begun to understand the benefits of salvation and teaching, it should be no big deal to share their physical blessing in return fotr the spiritual blessings they have received. Paul's not demanding that the church pay him in no way reduced the church's responsibility to support those who ministered to them. We would not expect the army to serve without charge, and we should not expect the pastor to do so either.

Those who receive the benefit should foot the bill. Getting others to foot the bill is cheating them, whether it is an unpaid pastor, or other churches, though they may, and should, be willing to help. The church should not shirk it 's duty, and Paul expresses concern that his action may have encouraged them to do so in II Corinthians 11:7-8.

It is not wrong for a missionary starting a new church to get financial help to get the church started, or for a pastor to work while he is getting one started. It is wrong for the church to depend on others to continue to pay what they could do themselves. Just as efforts to help the poor can do more harm than good, so can efforts to help other churches. Scriptural guidelines need to be followed in both cases to avoid such harm.