A Pastors Wage

A Pastors Wages

“Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?  
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.  
Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 
If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.  
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.”
                                            1 Corinthians 9:13-18.
Here’s something for twenty-first century Christians to think about.
Paul notes that even the temple workers get paid in one way or another for their service. Thus in the same way those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
Paul point out that he did not receive his living from the preaching of the gospel. He was proud of that.
Paul was as he put it,
“for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 
If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.  
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.”
Paul preached the gospel for free even though he did deserve a pay for doing so. It was Paul’s choice.
Today I know it’s a touchy topic as to how much a pastor or evangelist should be paid. But they should be paid.
I believe that we should give to our own church congregation first. Then give to evangelical organizations.
Both the church and the evangelical organizations should have a board that works independent of the pastor or evangelist a board that has the right to hire and fire the pastor. That board should be responsible to set a good living wage with benefits such as medical and other essential things, for them.
The rest of the money collected over and above the pastors salary should go directly to evangelism with only a minimum amount going to the administration of the organization.
I believe that a pastor who writes books deserves to keep all the money earned from such sales. He should however give from those earnings his tithe.
I believe this is only right. A workman no matter what they do is worth his wages.
If a pastor or evangelist chooses as Paul not to accept a wage then so be it. It is their choice.
But if the congregation chooses to pay him it should be an honest living wage.
Question to Christians,
Is your pastor getting paid enough?
Think about it.