How much money should I make?

 

I was having a conversation with one of our groups about wages for pastors. I don’t think there was anyone that thought their pastor should donate their time or that they should receive a poverty level wage. But I am sure there are people that think that pastors work one day a week so they should get equivalent pay. Let me tell you, pastors work hard. How much is enough? I am not sure I can answer that question, but they should be able to live in such a way that they do not have to worry about housing, food, and  clothing. A pastor deserves a FAIR wage!

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, ‘Those who work deserve their pay.’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18)

That seems to make it pretty clear, pastors should be well compensated. On the flip side of that, these pastors that often preach the prosperity gospel and live like lavish kings, that is WAY too much and sets a terrible standard for the kingdom. 

When I was reading the parable of the Vineyard workers in Matthew 20, I was thinking about the question, What is a fair wage for a pastor? 

We all have such strange concepts of a fair wage and most of the time it is about comparing. “I want to make as much money as _____, because I am better than they are.” That was the attitude of the workers. Fairness to them was getting more for their work than those hired at the end of the day. 

“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When  they received their pay, they protested to the owner. Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.” (Matthew 20:8-12)

Here we go with the comparisons. 

We might ask how many people have given their lives to Jesus? How many people do you have going OUT into the community leading other churches, bible studies, mentoring new believers, and planting seeds? Even though you have 30 years preaching experience, are you on “cruise-control” right now, retired even though you are filling a pulpit on Sunday morning? What are the demands/needs of the church? Does a congregation need more time and energy from a pastor to revive them and to reach the community? 

There are a lot of ways to look at fairness. We don’t know, maybe the workers in the parable hired last were desperately needed to make a deadline or maybe they got more done in the short time than the others did all day? God knows and God is fair. God is able to reward how he sees fit. When someone makes a “death bed” confession of faith, God honors that faith. What are the alternatives? Give them half of eternity? How long would you have to be a follower of Jesus before you would get the full day of wages? Of course those questions are not Kingdom questions.God just wants us. He wants our love, he wants our commitment. His grace is amazing and we should rejoice in those that made the decision. I heard someone say “Fair is not always Equal!” and I completely agree. Fairness can only be judged in the eyes of God. I trust him and praise him for his unfailing love, his grace, and his mercy. Amen!