Ministry and Money

Josh Reading
Oct 27
5 min read

Ministry and Money: A Shared Calling, Not a Career

I remember talking with an acquaintance who had been a Youth Pastor. He was considering a move to a different context to become the Senior Pastor of another church. I asked what I believed was a simple question:

“Is God asking you to do this?”

His answer surprised me:

“I think so, but if they do not pay full time, I am not going.”

I was genuinely taken aback. Here was someone believing God was calling him, yet placing a financial condition on obedience. The conclusion was clear: “The Church must pay me.” That moment opened my eyes to how easily financial security can shape our obedience, and how any of us can slip into entitlement if we lose sight of God’s call. Put another way, we can function as “hirelings” who work for our own benefit rather than sons and daughters who participate in the family.

I genuinely understand financial pressures. As a father and husband, I know the burden of providing for a family. Even so, my greater responsibility is to follow Jesus in faith. The way God provides can change over time, but obedience to His call must remain constant.

When we moved to Canberra to plant what is now LifeCity Church / Divergent Church, I worked at McDonald’s. Later I worked other jobs and was eventually supported part-time by the Church. At one point, despite not being paid full time, I devoted myself full time to the work regardless. Even now, whilst focused on building believing community, I also run businesses and community initiatives designed to create a holistic environment for new believers to thrive.

The key idea of this reflection is simple: Spiritual leadership is never a career, it is a call. There can be appropriate compensation that enables ministry, but never entitlement. We support to enable ministry, not pay to entice leaders.

The Biblical Vision for Ministry

The contemporary Church often treats ministry more like a profession than a calling. The expectation is often placed upon a full-time salaried worker to shoulder most teaching, pastoral care, and governance. Titles, payroll structures, and entitlement can subtly shape how ministry itself is viewed.

Scripture offers a very different vision.

The New Testament teaches that ministry is flexible, relational, and deeply shared among the people of God. Financial support is a partnership, not employment. The Church is a body, not a corporate institution.

To understand ministry properly, we must distinguish common assumptions from biblical revelation.

1. Ministry is the shared responsibility of ALL believers

The early Church did not divide God’s people into “ministers” and “ordinary Christians”, staff and congregation, clergy and laity. While roles existed, they were Elders and Deacons, not professional roles (Philippians 1:1).

“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”Ephesians 4:11–12 (NIVUK)

All believers were actively expected to be involved in community and ministry (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–27). Ministry was shared life, not a contractual arrangement.

Much of the “professional ministry model” today has unintentionally nurtured a provider/consumer relationship, which is far removed from the biblical vision.

2. Ministry is a calling, not a career

The idea of professional ministry as a paid career path simply did not exist in the ancient world. Paul never validated ministry through wages, employment contracts, or job security.

Instead, he wrote:

“This is how one should regard us… as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.”1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (NIVUK)

Qualifications for elders focused on:

character
hospitality
teaching ability

(1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)

No assumption was made that an elder must leave their trade or be financially supported.

In the Greco-Roman world, patron-client systems shaped status and survival (deSilva 1999; Doss 2005). Yet the Kingdom of Jesus disrupted expectations of status, reward, and entitlement.

Modern patterns often reflect secular educational and employment models more than Scripture. Many leave theological education with significant debt and understandably expect a vocational ministry job. The Church must think more biblically about calling and leadership development.

3. Financial support should enable, not entitle

Scripture provides for financial partnership when ministry labour restricts earning capacity.

“The worker deserves his wages.”1 Timothy 5:18; Luke 10:7 (NIVUK)

Those who labour in preaching and teaching were considered worthy of double honour, including material support (1 Timothy 5:17). Support is based on service, not status.

Jesus’ ministry was supported by others (Luke 8:1–3), and the Philippian church partnered practically with Paul (Philippians 4:15–18). Yet neither Jesus nor Paul operated from entitlement. Their guiding principle was service and sacrifice (Matthew 20:28; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13).

4. Paul demonstrates two Biblical models of ministry support

A. Self-Supporting Ministry

Paul often worked with his own hands.

“We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone.”2 Thessalonians 3:8 (NIVUK)

This was counter-cultural in a society where many sought wealthy patrons for advancement (Ruden 2010). Pauls approach embodied humility, integrity, and missional adaptability.

Paul’s heart reflects Christ’s sacrificial posture.

“So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.”2 Corinthians 12:15 (NIVUK)

B. Supported ministry

Paul also affirmed that support is legitimate.

“The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:14 (NIVUK)

Support is good and biblical, when it serves the Gospel rather than a sense of entitlement.

Importantly, “those who preach the gospel” refers to recognised, tested, and gifted leaders set aside for this purpose, not just anyone with a desire.

Conclusion

When considering ministry and money, the true issue is not money itself but our hearts.

Mammon is a terrible master but a useful servant.

Financial support should flow from gratitude to Christ, not from a desire for career or worldly compensation structures. Scripture leaves room for discernment, generosity, and contextual wisdom. The Church must cultivate a culture of sons and daughters who lay everything down for the family and share in its joy and benefit.

Remember…

The New Testament calls us to a healthier vision: