Show me the money!

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 5:16-18 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. ¹⁷ The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Application: Paul now shifts his focus to the support of the elders. Scripture makes clear that not all elders are vocational ones, but here Paul wants it understood that the ones that are should be taken care of by the flock they watch over. The “vow of poverty” that some believe is part of the calling for those that are vocational elders is not in the Bible. It was a vow taken by some men in history and over time has proven to be unprofitable for the Body of Christ and to those trying to shepherd under such conditions. The Body of Christ does not learn it’s responsibility to care for the person God has led to shepherd them when they are “purposefully” poor. The elders may become resentful or find other ways to gain money, (i.e. charge for services including birthday parties and funerals, as has been noted by some in that situation and I have witnessed personally where I am ministering. Quite a few times after I had been invited to say a prayer at some function, the host would ask me how much he owed me. He was pleasantly surprised when I made it clear that what I did was unto the Lord and that it was a privilege to be invited to do so. God never intended anyone to be charged for a prayer! The other end of this pendulum is also very unbiblical, that is of the rich superstar Televangelist or “Speaker”. An Elder is not to be a lover of money. If someone wants to be a rich author or entertainer, God has no problem with that, but the office of Elder is a particular gift to the Church and God Himself gave the qualifications. It was neither to be rich or poor. God expects Elders to live in a respectful way in their society and He expects the flock to support the Elder to live that way. The important universal principle here, that we do need to consider, is the issue of workers being treated or compensated properly or fairly for their work. Too many Christian employers seem to have a disconnect with their Scriptural teaching and principles  that lead to Christian values when it comes to how they treat or pay their employees.

Matthew 25:44 “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’

Acts 20:34 “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.

2 Corinthians 8:14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;

It is unclear to me why so many seem to think there are two different standards. One when we are at Church – they are committed to supporting the Body and even very generous at times, but a different standard when it comes to their business. Don’t be confused, God expects the strong – that includes financially – should watch over the weak. The scriptures have many references to being fair to our workers, charging fair prices for our goods, etc. One of the most surprising passages concerning this has to do with Sodom. When any of us think abut Sodom we only think about the perversion of sex that took place, and that it did. Yet, in Ezekiel God points out another terrible sin that brought about her destruction:

 Ez 16:48–49 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.  “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease,

but she did not help the poor and needy.

God takes this issue very serious. We may memorize verses, know all kinds of theology, put up great buildings, be at the top of our industry and known for our generosity by those in power, but if we are not known for our charity to the least, which includes our employees, God does not recognize that as “Christian”!    

Meditation Questions: When you work for someone, do you want to be paid a fair wage? When someone works for you do you want it as cheap as possible, even free if you can get it? How honest is that? Is there a difference between proper stewardship and being cheap or tight? Describe the difference? When people work for us how do they know we are Christian? By our talk only? Would wages count as part of our walk? Many restaurants have workers that do not want to serve believers because they complain the most and tip the least, what do you think of that and why? Does your Pastor live way above you? Below you? About the same? How do you think he ought to live? Why? How do you live in comparison to most people around you? What does that say?