Leaders who minister in the word have a right to be paid. On the other hand, they do not have a right to hinder the gospel by demanding payment.


1 Cor 9:1 - 15 v.1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
v.2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
v.3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
v.4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
v.5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?


(1 Cor 9:5 NASB) Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?


v.6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
v.7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
v.8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
v.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?
v.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.
v.11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
v.12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
v.13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
v.14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
v.15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

Leaders who minister in the word have a right to be paid. On the other hand, they do not have a right to hinder the gospel by demanding payment. Paul often worked to avoid burdening the believers, but he also accepted gifts graciously, to help in the ministry. Paul tried not to burden the churches financially and so supported himself and those with him, setting an example for us to follow.

A)  BE satisfied
B)  Be not a burden to others




(Deu 25:4 KJV) Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.


(1 Tim 5:18 KJV) For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.


(Acts 20:34,35 KJV) Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.





(2 Th 3:7 - 10 KJV) v. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
v.8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
v.9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
v.10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.


Luke 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.


Phil 4:10 - 19 v.10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
v.11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
v.12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
v.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
v.14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
v.15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
v.16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
v.17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
v.18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
v.19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


The gifts to Paul, were a gift of worship and praise to God Himself.





Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

In the Law, the Temple tithe and sacrifices primarily supported the Levites or priests (Nu 18:20-24; Eze 44:28-30). Both Christ and Paul affirmed that supporting God-called ministers is the duty of the Believers. Paul was anxious to assure the Corinthians that he was not after their money but desired that they know Christ.

(3 John 1:7,8 KJV) Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.


(2 Cor 11:7 - 9 KJV)
v.7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
v.8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
v.9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.




(2 Cor 12:13 - 19 KJV)
v.13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
v.14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
v.15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
v.16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
v.17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
v.18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
v.19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

The Levites received no land through inheritance but were supported by the people's tithes for their service as God's chosen priests. The tithe required ten percent of the produce of the land--grain, oil, fruits, and animals. Many believe the Temple tithe is one of the three required in the Old Testament. The celebration tithe is the second, and the charity tithe is the third. Old Testament Scriptures are not clear; therefore, it is difficult to know whether the tithing requirements began with the celebration tithe, changed to the charity tithe, and finally became the Temple tithe--or included all three. Many accept the three-tithe view because Jewish tradition affirms it. Whichever view is correct, tithing was important in Old Testament religious life and is part of the religious heritage that guides the Christian in giving. Our gifts should foster the church's worship and celebration, the ministry of God's called-out servants, and the charitable ministries of the church.

Num 18:21
v.21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
v.22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
v.23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
v.24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
v.25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
v.26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
v.27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
v.28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
v.29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
v.3o Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
v.31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
v.32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.


Deu 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

The celebration tithe was shared in worship in a ceremony of thanksgiving and praise. A tenth of grain produce was to be carried to a worship place where the family joined in a celebration meal. In this case the tithe was consumed by the giver, after sharing it with the Levites in an act of worship.

Tithing provided the worshiper a means of spiritual celebration, supporting the priests, and caring for the needy. God required His people to tithe of their grain and animal products. When the distance was great to the designated place for giving the tithe, they were permitted to exchange their gifts for money and take it instead.

Deu 14:22 - 29
v.22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
v.23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
v.24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
v.25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
v.26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
v.27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
v.28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
v.29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

The children of Israel were to use their tithes to help the poor, needy, aliens, widows, orphans, and the Levites. We must be willing to share our resources to provide the needs of people suffering in poverty.

(Deu 12:19 KJV) Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

 (Lev 27:30 KJV) And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.


Deu 26
v.1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;
v.2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.
v.3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.
v.4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.
v.5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
v.6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
v.7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
v.8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
v.9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
v.10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:
v.11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.
v.12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
v.13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
v.14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.
v.15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
v.16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.


Acts 11:28,29 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:


Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.


Tithing should never be substituted for loving God and doing justice.


Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

In this discussion tithing is given as an example of the Pharisees' hypocrisy. The Old Testament law of the tithe required that they give ten percent of agricultural produce. They had gone to an extreme to prove their righteousness while missing the real meaning of righteousness--mercy and justice. Many believe that here Jesus established the tithe as the plan for Christian giving. He commended the Pharisees' devotion to the law of tithing.

Giving according to one's ability is a good principle. Christians are to meet the needs of fellow believers who are hurting , according to there ability even when the believers are not personally known or do not live in the same community.

(Acts 11:30 KJV) Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.


(1 Cor 16:1 - 3 KJV)
v.1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
v.2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
v.3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

Give according to the amount earned. This guideline fit the spiritual needs of Christians for giving.

Rom 15:25 - 28
v.25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
v.26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
v.27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
v.28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

Christians are to serve God and fellow Christians

2 Cor 8
v.1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

God's grace developed a spirit of generosity in the Macedonian churches. We need that same grace of generosity to help people in need.

The churches in Macedonia provide an example of worship involving the giving of themselves as well as their material wealth to the Lord.

v.2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
v.3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
v.4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
v.5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
v.6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
v.7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
v.8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
v.9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
v.10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
v.11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
v.12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
v.13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
v.14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
v.15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.





Ex 16:15-18 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.



v.16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
v.17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
v.18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

Local churches cooperate together to meet the needs of other churches whether far or near. Paul built a spirit of cooperation and a sense of unity among all the churches. Thereby, Christ was honored. Paul assured proper administration of the offering by letting the churches choose trusted representatives to assist in administering the offering. The church is not a dictatorship administered by one person but a group of Christ's servants who choose their own representatives.

2 Cor 9:1-9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Paul reminded the Corinthians of God's sufficiency of grace and of His justice. We are to give to the poor. Giving is a part of our righteousness. Righteousness is thus expressed outwardly in meeting the needs of other people.

v.10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
v.11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
v.12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
v.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
v.14  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
v.15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.



IS 55:8-13 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.