1 Thessalonians 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
Two labors are mentioned - one spiritual, one manual. One is to give them the gospel (spiritual) for their benefit, the other is to remove from them the burden of supporting the preacher, for their relief. The Christian minister is to work hard at the spiritual work - and also at the manual work. It is exhausting business, the gospel ministry. Only those with such burdens know what I mean. A life of luxury and leisure as a minister is a reproach and will be rewarded accordingly when faced with the Lord's crowning judgment.
It should also be noted that the minister who is there for gain is different from the one who has needs. Churches should carefully determine, when calling a pastor, what his needs are vs. what would be "gain." Striking a balance is important. Churches should be as generous as possible, but they should also be sensitive to what might cause a minister to stumble into covetousness, greed, or the love of money by over-lavish provision. Likewise, the minister should not seek, nor request over-lavish provision. His motive for service should be the people (the Lord’s will for them, their blessing and benefit), not the provision. Nevertheless, a church that cannot provide, with no other jobs in the area for the pastor to supplement his income, will simply not work. Mathematics tell the story. If a man cannot provide for his family, he must go where that is possible. Thus the balance.
Hard labor for spiritual ministry must be part and parcel of the work of the minister. His efforts to study the word, pray for the saints, and speak the gospel are mostly done in private - out of view of the public. Many see the preacher as working only on Sunday and Wednesday, not realizing all the hours of preparation lest he be found to be a worker who is ashamed and powerless to effect the life-change needed in the hearts of the people. It is good to have several "lay" ministers who are NOT supported by the church, but who likewise labor diligently in the spiritual work of the Lord, for they can testify to the church of the labor required, justifying and testifying to the assembly that the minister is worthy of his hire.
Our churches, therefore, should honor ministers who labor diligently in spiritual things and do not shrink from manual labor. They should prayerfully consider their support of their pastor, to decide their abilities (within their mission and provision) to enable him to perform the ministry to which he is called and their responsibilities to support him and his family. The church that does will be rewarded with a pastor who loves and lifts them to greater spiritual heights than they ever thought possible. To miss the balance is to miss the blessing.
Holler for Jesus,
Greg Yount
Check out my blogs:
Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com
As I See It - Biblical perspectives on current events - http://asiseeit10.blogspot.com
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Pastor Greg