PREACHERS FOR SALE

PREACHERS FOR SALE
Micah 3:11

Don Fortner


Yesterday, two letters, written by two different preachers at opposite ends of the country, were sent to me. Both of them claimed to have a commission and burden from the Lord to do a specific work. Over the years, they have made many such claims. Both letters began by saying, "If there is one thing I've learned in my many years of serving Christ and helping people, it is that I can't do it alone. It takes the help of God through special friends like you." There must be a computer program out there somewhere with form letters for begging preachers! Three things need to be said with emphatic clarity in this day of self-serving, money grubbing preachers. THE SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD DO NOT BEG! God does not grovel before men and neither do his servants. In fact, when our Lord sent his disciples out to preach the gospel, he specifically commanded them to make no provision for themselves and not to go (as beggars) from house to house (Lk. 10:4-7). If God calls a man to do something, anything, you can be sure of two things: (1.) God will supply him with everything he needs to do the work. And (2.) he will get the job done. Faithful men live and minister within their means with contentment, knowing that God's provision is exactly best. They would not think of dishonoring God by groveling as beggars before men! GOD'S SERVANTS DO NOT ENRICH THEMSELVES. They are not hirelings. Every true gospel preacher is worthy of and should have the generous support of God's saints, so that he and his family are maintained in a comfortable, though certainly not lavish, livelihood (I Cor. 9:1-14). It is a shameful reproach upon the gospel for any local church that is able to do so, not to support its pastor, faithful missionaries, and others who preach the gospel. But gospel preachers are not hirelings or greedy, self-serving men. God's servants will not be induced, influenced, or controlled in either their place of ministry, the content of their message, or the work they do by money. GOD'S SERVANTS SERVE PEOPLE. THEY DO NOT USE PEOPLE! "For we preach not ourselves, (from ourselves, about ourselves, or for ourselves), but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus's sake" (II Cor. 4:5).

Don Fortner is pastor of
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, KY