Wednesday, August 24, 2011
You can't pay the right preacher too much...
It's the time of year when budgets are being set and that always leads to discussions about how much to pay the ministry staff. If you have the right one, you cannot pay him too much. And here is why I think that.
If he is really God's man, he and his family will use and give away in ministry what they recieve above reasonable living expenses. They will have a house that is constantly used for kingdom business. He will wear out his vehicles doing ministry. He will be a generous giver. It is concievable that he might even say "I have enough. Use it somewhere else."
So how do you know you have the right man? One way is that you always come across their ministry tracks. You see people they are working with, you hear people talk about how much they have meant to their family. You never have to wonder what they are doing. You worry that they need to spend more time with family and encourage them to take time off.
God is blessing their ministry with growth. Youth ministry, or campus, or family, or pulpit. It doesn't matter. You will see evidence that they are the right fit for the job. Spiritual growth -- not just numerical growth -- is a result of their ministry.
You know that their ministry is a calling, not a career. They would do ministry if no one paid them. They can't help it.
So if you have the right people in place, be generous. It will come back to you many times over.
And yes, I really do know ministers like this.
If he is really God's man, he and his family will use and give away in ministry what they recieve above reasonable living expenses. They will have a house that is constantly used for kingdom business. He will wear out his vehicles doing ministry. He will be a generous giver. It is concievable that he might even say "I have enough. Use it somewhere else."
So how do you know you have the right man? One way is that you always come across their ministry tracks. You see people they are working with, you hear people talk about how much they have meant to their family. You never have to wonder what they are doing. You worry that they need to spend more time with family and encourage them to take time off.
God is blessing their ministry with growth. Youth ministry, or campus, or family, or pulpit. It doesn't matter. You will see evidence that they are the right fit for the job. Spiritual growth -- not just numerical growth -- is a result of their ministry.
You know that their ministry is a calling, not a career. They would do ministry if no one paid them. They can't help it.
So if you have the right people in place, be generous. It will come back to you many times over.
And yes, I really do know ministers like this.
