What's wrong with preachers being wealthy?

Question

I think many people assume preachers are greedy but how can anyone know the heart? And most of them work 80+ hours every week. Personally, I think most are UNDERPAID. What about you?

Answer 1

Nothing is wrong with it. You are right only God knows our heart. I worked in a christian drama ministry and we were vastly underpaid. I agree most are underpaid but being humans we have a tendency to look at the outside before the heart and wealthy preachers get a bad name because not all are truly godly working 80+ hours every week.

Answer 2

I agree that most are underpaid. It is also true that God made some of His prophets and leaders rich.

But this is not for all nor is it something to be sought by preachers.
God says that we should seek His kingdom FIRST..and all else will be added.....always according to His will.

Martin Luther said that it takes a man with strong legs to bear up under riches. And more importantly, Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven.

Answer 3

A man cannot not serve two masters; you cannot love God and love money. There is nothing wrong with wealth, but that most who are wealthy got that way from loving money not God. We cannot judge a persons heart, only God can. But God said that it would be easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God... I know that if I was wealthy I would certainly do much good with it, but what good do we do with what we have? Read in Luke about the woman who gave 2 copper coins... Also God says (I am paraphrasing) what good is all the earthly treasure if you can't take it with you when you die. Do they have a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and clothes on their back? Then they are doing quite well, and shouldn't complain, for they of all people should understand Gods views of wealthy, money & poverty. The problem is are they using the money to serve their desires or Gods, because we are as believers to always want to do what God wants, not what we want!

Answer 4

promoting God isn't what He needs. His be conscious is given freely and should not be charged for. Preachers are incorrect taking funds to evangelise the Gospel. so some distance as making a residing and having wealth is in contact it does intrude with a Christian attitude. "it is extra undemanding for a camel to bypass interior the direction of the attention of a needle than for a wealthy guy to flow into the dominion of heaven." Being wealthy could be used to help those much less fortunate than ones self.

Answer 5

Well, I don't believe it's wrond for any preacher to become wealthy unless he/she forgets that the Lord almighty, the Lord mighty in battle is the one who has given the wealthy. Unless he/she do not become greedy and big headed about their position in society. Why, I say this is because people forget that the Lord placed us in position for a purpose, and only he alone knows that purpose we are to fulfill in Jesus name. However, with that position comes along blessings if we submit ourselves to him entirely and wholeheartedly. After submission to the Lord, we have a role and a task to take up, that which has nothing to do with ones self, instead that which has to do with the Lord. And once that task is complete it is never complete he always has another task ready to be fixed because is job is to win hearts and souls and his task is already conquered, but we must have faith and belief that we can get his message across and accomplish Gods will in order to receive the Lords blessings. Until then I believe that it isn't Greedy for preachers to be wealthy, because it's a blessing from the Lord. And what better Blessins and one get if it isn't from the Lord.

Amen
Amen

Answer 6

Exactly. The topic of the recompense of preachers is addressed in the Bible. The Apostle Paul addressed the topic in I Corinthians. He concluded that he and Barnabas had done substantial work (preaching, etc.) and it therefore would make sense for them to be monetarily rewarded by the church. He supported his viewpoint by reasoning that, if they sowed spiritual things by doing God's work, it wouldn't be a great benefit for them to reap natural things (getting paid by the church every so often). He also quoted a scripture, saying that it was unjust to muzzle the ox that treads the corn (that is, deny any recompense to those, like preachers, who work, when they need it.) What he wrote to the Corinthians concerning the matter is below.

1Co 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?






Furthermore, the Bible supports the idea that a righteous preacher should reflect material as well as spiritual well-being. God has promised that all of His righteous followers would live comfortably. Psalm 112 says: "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments...Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever."
According to the Bible, ALL righteous people receive material blessings from God.
It should, however, be noted that God's material blessings only come to those who seek after God and God alone. The Bible says that, if one seeks after the kingdom of God and righteousness FIRST, then all material wealth is given to that person. (Matthew 6:33) So, as long as a preacher walks circumspectly in the eyes of God and does not concentrate solely on wealth, I don't have a problem with a rich pastor.

Why the outcry, then? I suspect that the main motivator is jealousy. The problem with wealthy pastors can be visible if the pastor concentrates solely on wealth or obviously wants to scam people out of money. There are, however, many times when that is not the case. Take T.D. Jakes, for example. He's worked hard for his money and it was a great feat for him to even build his church, considering he had no money when he ordered its construction. He's obviously just some avaricious pastor, either; he went to Africa and used his money to build a school for impoverished children. There are other pastors who use their wealth to go to remote countries and buy food for the disadvantaged (Joyce Meyer, for example). Yet people still have a problem with them! Why don't they take the riches they have at their disposal and go to some poverty-stricken part of the globe and help some starving, homeless children out. What? They don't have the funds? I didn't think so.

Blessings.

Answer 7

There is a huge difference between the average every day preacher (who is indeed underpaid) and the evangelist type preachers who set themselves up as their own gods.

Answer 8

UNDERPAID. Whether you're religious or not preachers can provide tremendous insight to situations. You can go to them for help and/or advise and they'll certainly be wiling to help. They're not greedy. They have good hearts and like anyone they have to make a living. Why not pay them for what they deserve?

Answer 9

I don't have a problem with preachers being wealthy...I do have a problem with extreme wealth...ie many of your "superstar" televangelists. especially when its been shown that they have swindled money from poor people who really thought they were getting help. too much money in excess shows that not enough money is being spent towards the good works which they claim to be doing.

Answer 10

Most preachers get paid to preach. Not so with Jesus' didsciples. At Matt. 10:8, Jesus taught his followers: "You received free, give free."