Hello Post. On the other hand I met an old Christian guy on the Island of Iona in the Summer singing and playing the accordion, many of the songs his own compositions. He looked to be of much more limited means than many of the TV ministries and yet he was adamant that he would not take any money for his gospel witness.
I must admit I found it heart warming that believers still compose gospel songs and sing them without requiring money for it.
God Bless
This is refreshing.
After Paul cited the Law of Moses, saying, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” in 1 Corinthians 9:9 and went on to defend the right of Barnabas and himself to reap material benefits (food and drink) for sowing spiritual things, he said in 1 Corinthians 9:12:
If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Paul again asserted, "the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel" (v. 14), but followed that up by saying in 1 Corinthians 9:15-18:
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
I have also known people who write hymns without making money off of them, and even ministers of the gospel who don't make money off of preaching. These songwriters and preachers hold other jobs to earn a living for themselves and their families. So many churches and individuals have become corrupt and end up perverting the gospel when money becomes involved. The material things Paul referred to when saying ministers of the gospel had been given the right to profit from their spiritual endeavors were food and drink. Basic needs.
Those who benefit spiritually from those in the ministry
should look out for their welfare and provide for their needs if they are wanting in anything. But, the only money collected in the New Testament churches was for distribution to the needy saints (which would include apostles). There were no preacher salaries, etc. There is a thread on this forum addressing this issue.