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Support of the Ministry

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 16, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 42.

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Support of the Ministry

By E. K. Slade

Gospel Finance—No. 12

Support of the Ministry

E. K. SLADE
OWING to the principle involved in the tithing system, it is required of the minister that he pay tithes just as much as it is required of others, even though his support comes from that fund. Those who have reasoned that they should be excused, come short of comprehending the true nature of the requirement. A minister needs the benefit of the heaven-born plan as much as any one else, and his position requires even greater faithfulness on his part.
“The laborer is worthy of his hire.” Luke 10:7. “Do you 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? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel shall live of the gospel.” 1 Cor. 9:13, 14.
The minister of the gospel is not to be embarrassed and subjected to temptation in resorting to various plans and questionable methods, consuming much of his time, in trying to raise his salary. He is to be freed from the temptation to court popular favor by preaching to please the ear, that his salary may not be jeopardized. He is not to be bound by financial support to a single congregation or to a fixed diocese. Neither is the preacher to be a pauper, nor a subject of charity. He is not to be embarrassed by lack of proper support.
The support of the ministry in the popular churches is most unsatisfactory to the churches as well as to the ministers, as they are constantly subjected to perplexity and embarrassment. The Lord’s plan provides ample support, and at the same time avoids the defeating features.
“God’s servants keep no record of hours. We must be ready in season and out of season to speak to this young man and to that young woman, to write letters to those in peril, and to hold interviews requiring the most earnest, anxious labor, praying for and with the erring and tempted.
“Those who write as well as tell the truth, have double labor. The eight-hour system has no place in the program of the minister of God. He must watch his chance to minister, he must be ready to entertain visitors, he must keep up life and energy of character, for he cannot exert a pleasing, saving influence if he is languid.”
“I wish my brethren to take this as a representation of the truth, and not fiction. Those who have a due appreciation of service, are God’s minutemen. He cannot say, I am my own; I will do what I please with my time. No one who has given his life to God to work as his minister, lives unto himself.
“Will my brethren consider these things which the Lord has brought before my mind in a most impressive manner? Will those who have never carried the burden of such a work, and who suppose the chosen and faithful ministers of God have an easy time, bear in mind that the sentinels of God are on duty constantly? Their labor is not measured by hours.
“If he occupies responsible positions, he must be prepared to attend board and council meetings, spending hours of wearisome brain and nerve-taxing labor, while others are asleep, in devising and planning with his colaborers. Who among God’s workers counts his hours of labor as does the mechanic? Yet this kind of labor taxes the mind and draws out every fiber of the being in such a way as the common laborer cannot appreciate.
“The light which the Lord has given me on this subject is that the means in the treasury for the support of the ministers in the different fields are not to be used for any other purpose. If an honest tithe were paid, and the money coming into the treasury were carefully guarded, the ministers would receive a just wage.”
“Every minister must have a salvage to work upon, that he may have something to lead out in good enterprises, pushing the work with zeal.”
“The Lord’s messengers should not be handicapped in their work of holding forth the word of life. As they teach the truth, they should have means which they can invest for the advancement of the work which must be done at the right time in order to have the best and most saving influence.”—“Special Testimonies to Ministers.”