Material Blessings for Spiritual Truths
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul illustrates the concept of paid church leaders using "secular industries. When someone works hard at something: farming, cooking, plowing, they are the first to share in the material reward of that work - it's called pay. He says Apostles and church leaders have the same right. But he goes deeper... 1 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV) If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? He says we planted spiritual blessings among you... that's a BIG DEAL and a HUGE BENEFIT to your life. Because of that benefit to you we have a right to receive back material benefits from you. Why? Because God's Word sown in any context is a tremendous blessing. The problem in many churches is that they simply don't pay their pastors properly. I know, we see the rare abuses on TV from the guy probably taking advantage of the sheep to line his own pockets. But let us not put that burden on the local farmer in God...