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Proper Compensation
1 Corinthians 9:11
"If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"
The Apostle Paul took the time to deal with the compensation of the man of God. He used the analogy of an ox that treads the corn to show the church of Corinth how they should take care of their pastor. He reminded this church that as God commanded that the ox that plows the corn has a right to eat, likewise the man of God who gives himself to the ministry should be properly compensated for his work. The verse above asked if the man of God sowed spiritual things, "...is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" In other words, God wanted this church to realize that they had an obligation to make sure their pastor reaped the benefits of his work.
Unfortunately there are those who think that the preacher should not be compensated for preaching the Word of God. I was recently in a restaurant when the pastor I was with tried to witness to a young man who was belligerent about men of God "getting rich" off the church. Though there are probably a few cases when men of God abuse the church in this area, on the whole most men of God do not get the proper compensation they deserve. Reason with me just a little if you will. Would a doctor continue in their line of work if they knew they would get nothing in return? After all the training a doctor goes through, they expect to get paid for their services. Imagine a heart surgeon performing heart surgery with their mind preoccupied with how to get food for their family. As preposterous as this sounds, this is exactly what some churches expect from their pastor. Though most preachers will still give their all, it is wrong for you to expect the preacher to literally have to work another full-time job so he can pay his bills.
There are some things you should consider about the care of your pastor's finances. First, be sure that their pay, at the least, equals the pay of the average income in your area. For instance, most people make enough to be able to pay their monthly housing expenses, food bill, and still have extra for clothing or dining out. These are just a few of the expenses a pastor must pay. Simply put, examine your monthly bills, then realize that your pastor probably has the same expenses.
Furthermore, be sure that he has a decent car to drive. Many do not consider that their pastor uses their car for church business. The pastor makes hospital visits in his car. He will most likely use his car to visit church members and go soul winning. He will use his car to drive to conferences to get ideas to help your family. He doesn't have to have the top of the line, though there is nothing wrong with that, but he should at minimum have a dependable car.
Moreover, you should make sure that the church places enough in it's budget to send your pastor to at least one conference a year. Companies often send their employees to training every year. A conference is a training time for the pastor. He also needs to get his spiritual battery recharged. A good conference can help train and recharge his battery.
Last, be sure to consider his health insurance and retirement. Just like you, he will have hospital expenses. Just like you, he will get old some day and may have to step aside. Though most pastors won't talk about this, your pastor deserves the right not to be concerned with these expenses. Your pastor's wife should know that she will be taken care of with a retirement plan if her husband was to pass away before her.
Though I will be criticized for this devotional, I believe it is Scriptural to take care of your pastor. I'm sure your pastor does his best to spiritually feed you, so be sure to do your best and make sure he is financially taken care of in the proper way.