Jump Start # 1491

1 Timothy 5:18 “For the Scriptures says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,’ and ‘the laborer is worthy of his wages.’

  Our passage today takes us to a very delicate and little discussed topic, the pay of those who preach. The immediate context concerns elders who are described as “worthy of double honor.” Because they preached and taught, they were worthy to be financially paid by the congregation.

Paying the preacher…you won’t hear many sermons on that. Most preachers feel awkward about talking about these things. It can leave the impression that the preacher is begging for a raise. There is a business side to preaching and I don’t like it. It is necessary and even Biblical, but it leaves me very uncomfortable. The shepherds I work with know how uneasy I am about this but I have found few avenues to openly discuss, study and talk about this. Among fellow preachers there is sometimes some talk. So, let’s open the door and talk about a few things.

First, the preachers I know, myself very much included, are extremely thankful and grateful to be able to be financially supported by a congregation. This is a blessing. If I had to “make tents” as Paul did, there wouldn’t be as much time to do the things we do. It is an honor to be considered worthy to receive wages from a congregation. We are, I am, blessed.

Second, my generation of preachers has seen salaries explode. Growing up I remember our preachers having to drive school buses to help make ends meet. There was the stigma, “You only work 3 hours a week,” that wasn’t fair, funny, nor honest. Those comments hurt a lot of preachers. Those that continue to say that are ignorant and clueless to what their preacher is doing. I’d ask them to follow him for a week and better yet, give the preacher a week off and let those who make that claim do the work for a week. He’ll change his tune. Salaries for all Americans have exploded. I remember my grandfather, just two generations ago, telling me that he made a dollar a day. A dollar a day. We would be insulted to make a dollar an hour today. The attitudes of most brethren have changed through the years about what they ought to pay the preacher.

There were times, not too long ago, when preachers were given country hams and eggs as compensation for what they did. Most were happy to take that home to their families. I was once given a new Bible. The one I was using was worn and I think folks felt sorry for me.

Most preachers have funny stories about compensation. There is that odd handshake that some treasurers use. It happens at the end of special meeting, the last night, folks are leaving and the treasurer comes and shakes the preachers hand. In his palm is a check. It’s like a secret. It’s an odd moment. Just hand the preacher the check. I was at one place and on old guy brought me the collection plate. He said they always gave the visiting preacher whatever was contributed that day. I got it all. Had I known that I could have put in a big check and told my wife, “You won’t believe what they pay.”

Some churches gave the preacher a raise every time his family grew. More kids, meant more money. On the churches side of things, they knew he would have more expenses and they were taking care of that. On the preacher’s side of things, it looked like he got a raise simply because they had a baby in the family. Had there been no baby, there would have been no raise. Few companies operate that way. They pay a person based upon what they do. It doesn’t matter if they are single, married or have kids.

Then there is the question I’m asked from time to time, “What’s the going rate these days for preachers?” I don’t know how to answer that, because I don’t know. We are not unionized and there isn’t a starting salary for the rookie preacher. Size of the congregation, experience of the preacher all play a role in determining his salary.

Our passage is special for at least three reasons. First, it joins two O.T. passages together. There is a quote from Deuteronomy (“not to muzzle the ox”) and a quote from Leviticus (“laborer is worthy”). These two quotes are merged in one sentence. Peter did this in Acts as well. Some fuss about joining verses like that, but here God did it through inspiration. Second, these verses were considered “Scripture,” that special word that is used to describe God’s writing. The word “Scripture” is used of Paul’s writings. What was quoted was Scripture. Thirdly, we find a principle here that the one who laborers is worthy of being paid. He shouldn’t feel ashamed or made to beg for what God rightly says ought to be done.

Now, some additional thoughts. There is a huge trust factor between elders, the preacher and the congregation. Folks shouldn’t wonder what the preacher is doing all week. His work ought to show. His sermons, his classes, his writings, his studies ought to indicate that he is busy, serious and doing a good work. There are lazy preachers. The internet makes it easy to find and reuse someone’s sermons. It’s easy to do nothing all week and then put together some simple thoughts on a Saturday evening and preach on Sunday. Such men ought to be ashamed. The laborer is getting paid because he has labored. Planning, studying, developing lessons and classes takes effort, time and serious thought. It’s easy to buy a class book and just follow along without any real effort. Preachers do not have time clocks. Most spend the day in empty church buildings. This has led some congregations to ask the preacher to record his hours. That seems to be a trust factor. An honest hard working preacher needs to be paid. That’s the point.

As times change, so ought our way of looking at how we pay the preacher. We don’t give the preacher live chickens at the end of his Sunday sermon. This preacher wouldn’t know what to do with a live chicken. Today’s world makes us think about insurance, both health and life, retirement and taking care of the preacher’s wife, if something were to happen to him. More and more brethren are realizing the check the preacher gets is before taxes and without any benefits. Here at the holiday times, most get off a few days for the holidays. That’s not included for most preachers. They are given two or three weeks vacation and that’s it. No holidays. If he wants to be gone on Thanksgiving to go visit family back home, he must use one of his vacations. We don’t think about that. There was a time, not too long ago, that just about all office equipment that the preacher needed was purchased out of his own pocket. He used it, he ought to buy it, was the common thought. Today, that thinking has changed. Congregations realize that computers and printers are expensive. If they want quality work, then they need to provide the tools to get the work done. Also changed, and it needed to be changed, was those interview questions about whether or not the preacher’s wife was going to work. That never comes up in the business world. Why would churches ask that? Because if she worked, then the church wouldn’t have to pay the preacher as much. Really? Isn’t the laborer worthy of his hire.

Here’s something else to consider. In most work places today, if one employee discusses their salary with another, that’s reason for termination. No one really knows what others are making. But our preacher has his salary listed right on the bulletin board for everyone to see. Have you ever thought about that? How would you like to walk into work and on the bulletin board was your salary listed. From that, they look at the car you drive, the size of your house and think, “are we paying him too much?” Put yourself in your preacher’s shoes for a moment.

God bless the hard working preacher and the wonderful congregation that appreciates his work. There is a love that is formed and a great relationship develops. Most preachers I know would never ask for a raise, never. Some have not gotten a raise in years. They love what they do, and would do it for free if they could. They are dedicated to the Lord. They do so much that most never know about. What happens during the week is rarely noticed. There are so many studies, phone calls, emails, visits. They do these things because they want the church to grow. They do these things because it is right. Some of my best friends are preachers. All of them are godly, great and feel blessed to do what they do.

Thank you for letting me share these thoughts. My intention is to just have you give some thought to why and how you pay your preacher. Put yourself in his shoes for a moment and maybe there can be some adjustments. Maybe there can be a better understanding. Maybe you can see his world. Your preacher may even had you this Jump Start. Don’t read between the lines. It’s so hard for him to open the door for you to see his world. Love him. Support him. Stand with him. Together, march onward to wonderful, wonderful Zion.

Roger