Just for the Pastors 22: Let’s Talk About Money

As a pastor you have to understand on a very deep, heart level that money is not evil, and you should not be poor. You should have a lot of money, and because of that, you should be learning how to handle money with wisdom, faith and gentleness. If you cannot handle money well, satan will destroy you. I know many ministers who have been destroyed because they cannot talk about money, cannot handle money, cannot raise money, cannot save money, cannot spend money. Part of your job as a pastor is to set a great example when it comes to money.

The first step to this is simple. Never ever ever ever minister for money. It’s that simple. Never make a decision for the ministry based on gain for you. Never care for the flock, never pastor, never preach for what you will get out of it. Make your mind up you will go where God calls you, be faithful to the people God calls you to without thought of reward. We get upset when a businessman leaves your church to move to another town for a meagre pay rise, but I have seen pastors leave flocks or assignments for an even more meagre pay rise so no wonder people do that with so many bad examples in the church leadership.

Peter had to tell elders and pastors:

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: ² Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. ³ Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. ⁴ And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. (1 Peter 5.1-4, NLT)

You serve God and you do what the Lord Jesus tells you, not what money tells you. You serve God for God not for money. Not for what you will get out of it. I know guest preachers who will not go somewhere unless they are guaranteed so much up front, a minimum offering, and certain requirements while there. I’m not interested in that at all. You have to set the bar high as a pastor because you are influencing all your people. I have gone to preach in places, they gave me an offering, and I gave it all back to them because they needed it more. I have given personal offerings straight into the church before. I have never asked for a minimum amount, and never taken a preaching engagement because of money. It’s that simple.

Money gives you power. If you do not know how to handle money, you do not know how to handle power, and power not handled well corrupts. In the last post we mentioned sexual sin, well, there are money sins too, and as pastors we have to resist temptation and serve God not money. Ask God to help you here. Of course, you are worth being paid and so on, but do not focus on that and it will come. Seek the things and nothing happens. Seek God first and His kingdom first, and the things will be added to you. That’s for everyone in your church, so do not merely teach it, model it. AMEN.