While doing my daily Bible reading, I continue to discover more portions of Scripture that confirm the principle of giving financially to those who minister to us spiritually.
Luke 10:1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2 And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 “Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 “Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. 5 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6 “If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7 “Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.
8 “Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 “But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 “I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.
In the time before Israel became a nation, the principle of giving 10% to the Lord was established. Israel, being a theocracy, gave much more than 10% of their income. We found in the church age that, while 10% my be a reliable general standard, love should be our guide to even a larger percentages of our income being given. In the passage above from Luke, again we see that it is the plan of God for those who receive care from God’s minister to supply the need of God’s minister. In fact, this seems to be the bedrock principal found throughout Scripture. Those who minister should be financially reimbursed by those who receive the ministry.
Galatians 6: 6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
Paul clearly explains the responsibility of giving to the minister. Ministers can’t minister without being paid, and it is logically, naturally the responsibility of those who receive the ministry to pay the minister.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.