Supporting Ministries

Human beings tend to be quite competitive.  Unfortunately this competitive attitude frequently carries over into the church.  It becomes a special problem when pastors or church leaders begin to insist their way is the right way.   The problem is that we begin to compare ourselves to each other, focusing on the areas where we outdo others and minimizing our weaknesses.   Paul talked about this in II Corinthians 10:12-13.  “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.  But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.” 

Competition and pride go hand in hand, and if we are not careful, we begin to try to expand our ministries to make ourselves look bigger, instead of concentrating on what God has already given us.  In order to expand our ministries we reach out to others for support, as if we had never reached anyone, instead of allowing those we have won to take responsibility for supporting our ministry.  There is a tendency to exaggerate what we are doing to encourage people to give more in the process, sometimes even to the point of taking credit for what others have done.  Paul went out of his way to avoid doing this, as we see in II Corinthians 10:14-16.  “For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.”

He wasn’t trying to make his ministry appear more than it was, but was willing to allow it to grow as the people in the church at Corinth were able to help him.  He had no regular support, as we see in Philippians 4:15-16.  “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.   For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.”  Even the church at Philippi only sent a few times.  Most churches today have a far different outlook than Paul, and as a result many ministries struggle to pay their expenses.  We are bombarded with requests to give to one ministry or another, with the result that many Christians complain that the church only cares about money.   

In I Corinthians 9, Paul had stressed that it was God’s plan that the church support those who did the ministry.   However, he was concerned that it is easy for ministers to abuse that right.  Rather than take a chance, Paul chose not to take any support from the local people for himself.  I Corinthians 9:18 explains.  “What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”  Because he was not depending on the churches for support, th3 offering from the Philippians was especially appreciated, as Philippians 4:18 explains.  “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”

It is right for the churches to support those who are in ministry, and as Paul told the Philippians, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” in Philippians 4:19.  It is also important that those in ministry not abuse their power and privilege.  When ministries are having to beg for money something is wrong.   They have the same responsibility to live by faith as do those they minister to, and Philippians 4:19 applies to them as well.  In Psalms 37:25, David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”   If God is not supplying what they need, it may be because they are misusing what he has supplied.  As a ministry grows it ought to become less dependent on outside support, not more.