Should Christian Pastors And Ministers Have Expensive Brands And Other Luxury Goods?
In the news, we read about pastors, Bible teachers, and evangelists getting jets. Secular media complains about pastors having very expensive dogs, other reports talk about pastors and ministers having expensive cars, watches, jewelry, and other bags. Is it alright for pastors and ministers to have nice things? Religious people and the media don’t seem to think so.
That begs the question. Is it okay for others to have nice cars, clothes, jets, and homes? If it’s someone not in ministry, people seem to be alright with the general populace having luxury goods or even nice luxury items. However, if it’s someone who has dedicated themselves to preaching the Gospel, these ministers are somehow disqualified. Saying something is okay for you, but not for others is basically hypocrisy. Let’s look at it further.
One famous minister heard God’s call on his life to build a university. Faith knows no limits. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, we are told to walk by faith, and not by what we see. If one minister can believe and trust God to work through him to build a university, who is anyone to stop him? If God has truly spoken to his heart, all you are doing is getting in the way of the Almighty. In Acts, 5:39, the Jewish religious leader summarizes it well, “If it is from God, you will not be able to stop the men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God”.
If someone has faith for to get a bicycle, isn’t that the same type of faith that one uses to get something else? Who are we to stand in the way of those who are believing for a jet plane? If you have ever done any air travel, there is an incredible amount of wasted time travellers spend waiting at airports changing planes, as airlines do not fly direct.
Yes! It is absolutely fine for ministers and pastors to have nice things. If they are walking by faith, they can have whatever they can believe for just as any believer. However, if someone is using funds given to their ministry for outreach, feeding the poor, or some other specific direction, redirecting those funds to buy a designer handbag, high end watch, or anything else is leading people astray. They will be judged for those actions by God. James 3:1 illustrates that fact.
If you are concerned about how a minister users their money, the best thing you can do is not give into their ministry. There are occasionally false brethren or charlatans , who pretend to be committed Christians but in the end are just sent by hell to deceive and distract as many people as possible. Our responsibility as believers is to be good stewards with the resources we have been entrusted (see Matthew 25:14-30).
The Bible is very clear in 1 Corinthians 9:14, which says that those who minister the Gospel should be supported by the Gospel. In the workplace, if someone does good work, we should pay them well. If a minister is productive, he or she should be well taken care of so they can minister more and be use their faith to change more lives.
It’s not about what you have, it’s about WHO you have and how you share HIM (JESUS!) with the world around you. God doesn’t mind you having riches, however, He doesn’t want riches to have you. After all, you can’t take them with you.
Be Blessed!
Additional References-
2 Thess 3:7-10, 1 Cor. 9:9-14, Luke 10:7, Phil. 4:16-19, Acts 6:2
