Based on my last blog where I outlined the different scenarios of being compensated in the ministry, here are a few more thoughts.
WEAK, STINGY GIVING
Recent statistics show that the Church overall is weak, and honestly, stingy, when it comes to supporting their ministers, missionaries, and preaching/teaching elders. Statistics show that only about 8-11% of church tithes and offerings go out while about 90% is used in-house for local expenses such as buildings (rent, mortgage, A/C, heating, electrical, etc) and other miscellaneous costs. I’m not opposed to buildings, of course, but God cares more about people than buildings. And God certainly does not want us to muzzle the ox that treads out the corn (ministers who preach and teach the Word). For example, He cares more about ministers being fairly compensated than giving your church building a new face lift.
Years ago I asked a church to contribute to our missionary campaigns and even possibly partner monthly with us for $100 or $200 per month. They told me it wasn’t a good time because they needed to install a $27,000 boiler in the church.
Look at this verse:
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” (1 Tim. 5:17)
Double honor here means both in RESPECT and COMPENSATION. God commands that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel (1 Cor 9:14). Elders who rule well means they have first qualified to be elders through their character (1 Tim 3), and secondly, they rule well. The word RULE in the Greek is pro-is’-tay-mee. This word appears eight times in the NT, and its meaning has more to do with caring for, guarding, watching over, and maintenance than about governing people. It is more about caring for people than about exercising authority over people. It describes not only a shepherd but a true father who loves families and the local church.
That verse says that elders are worthy of double honor, especially those who labor (work, not lazy) in the Word and doctrine. In other words, they are what we would call today pulpit ministers, with a definite anointing to preach and teach and feed people the Word of God — leaving them refreshed, edified, and equipped. So we are not talking about some college lecturer or unanointed theologian here. There is a difference. God recognizes anointings more than positions.
MISSIONARIES & TRAVELING MINISTERS
Where do missionaries and traveling ministers fit into that equation? They are also considered elders, but not necessarily in the local sense. For example, Peter was an apostle but also called himself a fellow elder (1 Pet 5:1).
I do not believe, however, that all traveling ministers are necessarily elders, but I believe they should be. Today we have far too many that don’t have the character to qualify to be itinerant or traveling ministers.
I believe the same applies to missionaries, but they often don’t have the anointing to qualify. Interesting twist there, huh? Some do not have the character, and others do not have the anointing. I know and have met many missionaries that are administrators or even pastors, but they don’t have the grace and anointing to deal with principalities and powers and punch open a city or a nation for kingdom expansion. I’m not saying they are not sincere, good, and godly people, but a God-sent missionary has the spiritual equipment to penetrate new territories.
There are many things and ministry gifts that are out of order in the body of Christ. We have some filling positions, but less fulfilling their callings with an anointing that God equips them with.
WISE WAYS OF GIVING
Instead of churches or individuals scattering $50 per month to the many missionaries you may support around the world, why not get behind a genuine apostolic gift who is impacting a nation for $500 or even $1000 a month. I knew of one genuine apostle that had a fairly large ministry who was being compensated by his local home church for $5000 a month. Would to God that many more apostolic men were supported that way by their own local churches. Then they wouldn’t have to run all over the country looking for more money to do what God has called and anointed them to do. That particular apostle was an apostle to other apostles. That kind of grace is worthy of double and even triple honor. We ourselves are moving stronger into that grace now.
LOCAL CHURCH GIVING PRINCIPLES
I know of a church who reserves and designates their entire tithe to only compensating their local elders, traveling ministers, and the missionaries they support. They do not touch the tithes that come in from the people. For the aforementioned local expenses such as building costs, they use only the offerings, not the tithes. In other words, if a million dollars comes into to the church over a period of time, they will immediately set apart the tithes of the people and only use it to compensate the ministers. That means if most of that million was tithes they wouldn’t touch it or use it for local expenses.
I know of another apostolic man who establishes churches and he has raised up financial elders to incur many costs. We have to understand that there are millionaires and people God has blessed that can contribute much more financially than the average middle or lower class working saint can contribute. So that there be equality, this apostle has installed financial elders. You may or may not agree with these methods and principles, but these kind of churches do not lack. God’s blessing sits richly upon them because they understand honor and double honor. The misuse and abuse of funds we witness in churches and ministries today does not do away with the real and genuine. There are still plenty of godly and anointed ministers and missionaries out there that are worthy of fair compensation and double honor.
I hope these thoughts are inspiring and challenging to local overseers, elders, and saints to double up on their giving and generosity. When you take care of those who preach the gospel, and true elders who labor in the Word and doctrine, God will take care of you.
Bert Farias' books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and the turning away from the truth we are seeing in our day. His recent five-book bundle, written under a fresh anointing, is a forerunner of what the Lord is doing in His church today. His newest release, Turning Your Trials Into Gold, is a powerful testimony of how God raised up Bert and his wife Carolyn from a sick bed and near death.
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