One of the reasons we church members should give generously is so that the preacher can be paid well. I find it very odd indeed that some fringe groups do not believe in paying a preacher at all. They didn’t get that zany idea from Paul the Apostle.

“One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:6-9)

I am sure that many Christians who are familiar with the passage “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” have no idea it was written in the context of paying the preacher.

1. “The one who is taught must share ALL good things with the one who teaches.” The principal is clear, take care of the man who teaches you God’s word. One who does the work of preaching the Word invests lots of time, time that could otherwise be used to get gain.

Are you one who is taught? Then it is your Christian duty to share what you have with the person who teaches you.

2. Not doing so mocks God and is selfish. “God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption.” It is clear, not sharing your bounty with the one who teaches you is a dangerous course. One who consumes all that he has upon himself and “his” own is a foolish and selfish person. His end will not be what he had hoped.

3. The one who gives is sowing to the Spirit and is doing right. “the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”  Do not become weary of giving, you are doing good. There is a reward for those who sow to the things of God, we must never give up.

What about you? Do you give as you should, and for the right motives? Someone said “The water of life is free but someone must put in the plumbing”. How true. Preachers are people too. They have the same kinds of expenses the rest of us do. Houses, cars, food, children’s educations, etc.,etc. cost the man of God just the same as you and I. If you have a good man (or men in my case) who are fulltime, faithfully doing God’s work and weekly telling you what God wants you to know, then dig a little deeper and do your part in assuring that he is taken care of.

In my view you will pay one way or another. You might pay the transmission shop, or the emergency room, or the plumber… Or you can pay the preacher. Remember, God doesn’t settle his books in December.

His peace,
Royce Ogle