Don’t Do Ministry For MONEY!
Posted by Pastor Hodge in Featured, From Our Pastor, From The Pastor, From The Staff, HeadlineSeveral years ago, a friend gave me a set of TAPES (yes, there used to be tapes for any of you who didn’t know that – LOL). The tapes were from Bishop TD Jakes’ annual Pastor’s Conference. In one of the messages, Bishop Jakes said something simple, yet profound: “If you can do anything else than ministry with your life, do it. Don’t get into the ministry for money. Go open up a fish market or something.”
Over the past weeks, my heart had been saddened by things I have seen and heard of people looking for “JOBS” and money-making opportunities in ministry.
I am not trying to be calloused or hard-hearted toward people who “feel” called to ministry and are in transition in their lives – looking for jobs or ways to make money. However, at the same time, I must say this: Ministry is NOT a JOB and it is not to be a source of INCOME.
I know many may think, “Well, then why do you draw a salary from Crossroads?” Why? Because the scriptures states, “The worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7, NIV). I serve – yes, serve as in a ‘SERVANT’ at Crossroads as the Senior Pastor. I refer to myself often as the “LEAD SERVANT.” The defining point is that I do not do what I do for money! I do what I do out of a passion for my God and His Kingdom.
Recently, I’ve seen everything from people looking for “ministry opportunities” because they are “between jobs” and they need money to a goofy ad stating, “Send us a seed gift of $150.00 and we will send you a CD with personal prophecies just for you.”
If you feel called to ministry, don’t look for money-making opportunities or gimmicks. Find somewhere to SERVE and trust Jehovah-jireh, the Lord your provider, to reveal Himself in you, through you, and to you.
If you are not ministering out of love, passion, and compassion – stay away from ministry. Please! There’s enough people hurt by charlatans already. Go flip some burgers, dig some ditches, put out some resumes for office jobs. Do something else. DO NOT DO MINISTRY FOR MONEY!
Serve God and His people. If money comes to you through that – let it be a fringe benefit! God will meet your needs – according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
I do what I do, not because of money. I do what I do because there is nothing else in life that could fulfill me like this. For THIS REASON I was set apart from my mother’s womb.
Just keeping it REAL!
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Excellent post, Pastor. Keep up the good work.
Good word Bishop! I’m sick of seeing hirelings raping the church as well. If you have no passion for it, find another JOB! Peace.
Thanks for chiming in guys. Keep up the good work of KEEPING IT REAL!
Is it possible that some people are seeking ministry as a source of income because they are trying to escape the real world of work? Ministry is work! It means you must give it your all. Give Christ your all. We are not serving God part-time. All Christians are called to minister. It is a matter of how you get paid.
This very day I was talking with a young man that has spelled out his ‘dream job’ with Christian non-profit organization. He says that God called him to a certain position as a leader and he needs to receive a full-time salary. He needs the money since he plans to marry in the near future. Good luck! Could he have the cart before the horse? We seek God first. We seek to serve in His Kingdom. How we get paid in this process is not the point.
I am in total agreement “Don’t minister for money”.. The actual call and annointing is priceless!
On the other hand, I do believe that those who minister should be honored and well taken care of.
I truely believe the scripture ” And we beseech you, bretheren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you
in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. And be at peace
among yourselves.” ITh 5:12 & 13
“Remember them who have the rule over you , who have spoken unto you the word of God:” Hebrews13:7
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor
in the word and doctrine…… (8b) And the labourer is worthy of his reward.”
I truely believe in honoring and blessing those who minister –
they will stand before God accountable ~ we don’t have to do it for them..