{"id":3467,"date":"2017-06-10T05:46:21","date_gmt":"2017-06-10T10:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=3467"},"modified":"2020-10-29T09:05:56","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T14:05:56","slug":"money-and-ministry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/money-and-ministry","title":{"rendered":"Money and Ministry In the New Testament ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID ABOUT RECEIVING PAYMENT FOR MINISTRY<\/strong>
\nJesus was not the only one to speak against receiving money for ministry. Paul had much to say about his own attitudes regarding supporting himself with his own labor rather than receiving money from others.<\/p>\n

1-Timothy 6:3-9 <\/a>If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, 5 and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 There is great gain in godliness with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; 8 but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Controversy and money go together. Political controversies generate news that people will pay to read and hear. Personal controversies and legal controversies often go to court where lawyers make big bucks no matter which side of the controversy they are on. And religious controversies also generate big bucks for those who get involved in arguments about religious issues.<\/p>\n

Some religious leaders write books and hold conferences for which people pay to be edified about one side of a controversy. Some religious leaders will create non-profit organizations to advance a particular side of a controversy for which there are many people who will donate money to advance and promote their side of the issue. Abortion, gay marriage and creationism come to mind as current issues that attract a lot of money.<\/p>\n

The way we see it, it can even be said that, even within denominations, controversy is a money maker. For a religious organization, whether at the local level or national level, to survive, it must constantly promote its choice doctrines to keep its faithful adherents engaged with financial support. Each religious organization must keep sharpening its arguments in the many controversies that separate and distinguish one denomination or church from another. The result, while it may not be readily observable at the local level, is a constant wrangling at a more global level about which religion is the one true religion or which ministries are most successful and deserving of financial support. And it must done to remain financially viable.<\/p>\n

The way we see it, none of this would go on if the denominational and organizational distinctions did not exist. It is all a war of words<\/a> in which men demonstrate to God, if not to other men, that even though they are skilled in earning money, they are immature in matters of the Spirit.<\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 11:7-9\u00a0<\/a> Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel without cost to you? <\/span>8<\/strong><\/span> I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. <\/span>9<\/strong><\/span> And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one, for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedo’nia. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

Ephesians 6:5-8<\/a> Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; 6 not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.<\/p>\n

Colossians 3:23-24<\/a> Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: The inheritance is spiritual — not material. It is the fruits of the spirit that accrue to New Covenant disciples.<\/a><\/p>\n

Acts 20:33-35<\/a> “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

Romans 6:23: <\/a>Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? <\/span>17<\/strong> But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, <\/span>18<\/strong> and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. <\/span>19<\/strong> I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. <\/span>20<\/strong> For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. <\/span>21<\/strong> Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. <\/span>22<\/strong> But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. <\/span>23<\/strong> For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n

1<\/a><\/a> Corinthians 9:1-25: <\/a>Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? <\/span> 2<\/span> If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. <\/span> 3<\/span> This is my defense to those who would examine me. <\/span> 4<\/span> Do we not have the right to our food and drink? <\/span> 5<\/span> Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? <\/span> 6<\/span> Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? <\/span> 7<\/span> Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? <\/span> 8<\/span> Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? <\/span> 9<\/span> For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? <\/span> 10<\/span> Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. <\/span> 11<\/span> If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? <\/span> 12<\/span> If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. <\/span> 13<\/span> Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? <\/span> 14<\/span> In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. <\/span> 15<\/span> But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have any one deprive me of my ground for boasting. <\/span> 16<\/span> For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! <\/span> 17<\/span> For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. <\/span> 18<\/span> What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel. <\/span> 19<\/span> For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. <\/span> 20<\/span> To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law–though not being myself under the law–that I might win those under the law. <\/span> 21<\/span> To those outside the law I became as one outside the law–not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ–that I might win those outside the law. <\/span> 22<\/span> To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. <\/span> 23<\/span> I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. <\/span> 24<\/span> Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. <\/span> 25<\/span><\/span> Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

2nd Corinthians 11:5-9<\/a> For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? 8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

2nd Corinthians 12:11-18<\/a> I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. 13<\/em> For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! 14<\/em> Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15<\/em> I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16<\/em> But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. 17<\/em> Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18<\/em> I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

Ephesians 4:28<\/a> 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

1st Thessalonians 2:1-12<\/a> For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2<\/em> but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3<\/em> For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4<\/em> but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. 5<\/em> For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness– 6<\/em> nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 8<\/em> Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 9<\/em> For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10<\/em> You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11<\/em> just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12<\/em> so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12<\/a> For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain; <\/span>2<\/strong> but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philip’pi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition.<\/span>3<\/strong> For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; <\/span>4<\/strong> but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts. <\/span>5<\/strong> For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness; <\/span>6<\/strong> nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. <\/span>7<\/strong> But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. <\/span>8<\/strong> So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. <\/span>9<\/strong> For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God. <\/span>10<\/strong> You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers; <\/span>11<\/strong> for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you <\/span>12<\/strong> to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

1-Thessalonians 4:8-12<\/a> 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedo’nia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; 12 so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

2-Thessalonians 3:10-12<\/a> For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

OTHER NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ABOUT MONEY AND MINISTRY
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 3:1-10<\/a> Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour]. <\/span>2<\/strong> And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; <\/span>3<\/strong> who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. <\/span>4<\/strong> And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. <\/span>5<\/strong> And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. <\/span>6<\/strong> But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. <\/span>7<\/strong> And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength. <\/span>8<\/strong> And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. <\/span>9<\/strong> And all the people saw him walking and praising God: <\/span>10<\/strong> and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acts 18:1-3<\/a> After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. <\/span>2<\/strong> And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, <\/span>3<\/strong> and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

1 Timothy 6:1-10<\/a> If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, 5 and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 There is great gain in godliness with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; 8 but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

I Peter 5:1-3 <\/a> 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

1 John 3:11-24 <\/a> This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12<\/em> Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13<\/em> Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15<\/em> Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16<\/em> This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17<\/em> If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18<\/em> Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19<\/em> This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20<\/em> whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21<\/em> Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22<\/em> and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.<\/p>\n

23<\/em> And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24<\/em> Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.<\/p>\n

Jude 1:11<\/a> Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID ABOUT RECEIVING PAYMENT FOR MINISTRY Jesus was not the only one to speak against receiving money for ministry. Paul had much to say about his own attitudes regarding supporting himself with his own labor rather …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2623,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3467","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3467"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10782,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3467\/revisions\/10782"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}