IS IT OK TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR SPIRITUAL MINISTRIES? (Video in Swahili & Text in English)

IS IT OK TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR SPIRITUAL MINISTRIES? (video link)

It is an indisputable truth that we need financial resources in providing spiritual services and even God has instructed that we give Him offerings. However, the Kingdom of God has its own way of operating different from the kingdoms of this world. One of its principles is this. Luke 14:11 "For whoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” Phil 2:3,4 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others.” All this is against the kingdoms of this world where a person shows himself off, considers himself better than others, and cares about his life first, and then others follow.

You are saying to yourself that you are blessed by charging people money for the spiritual services you provide. You must know that blessings from God are not similar to blessings from the world.  

Keep in mind that God is not against our prosperity in this world. What He opposes is using spiritual gifts as personal projects. We are not prohibited from doing other income-generating activities to help us earn money. We are not allowed to charge for spiritual services that we did not pay for. Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You have received freely, freely give.” God wants his people to give voluntarily or generously without being forced.

In fact, a blessed person realizes God's purpose in bringing him to this world and manages to fulfill it.

For example, the Apostle Paul had an income-generating activity that enabled him to provide spiritual ministries free of charge and without being dependent on people.

1. Apostle Paul provided spiritual services free of charge. 1 Corinthians 9:18 "What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.”

2. Apostle Paul was not a burden to people (people were giving voluntarily)

2 Corinthians 12:16 "But let it be so, I did not burden you. But being crafty, I caught you with bait.” 2 Corinthians 8:3 “For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability; they gave willingly”

3. Apostle Paul worked to earn money by sewing tents. Acts 18:3 "And because he was of the same trade, he stayed and worked with them; for they were tentmakers by occupation.”

What are the real blessings of God?

1. He wants you to “enjoy what you own" and not just the outward appearance. Owning something without enjoying it, is a sign of a curse.

Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the LORD itself makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” Deut 28:30 “You shall become engaged to a wife, and another man shall lie with her. You shall build a house, and you shall not live in it. You shall plant a vineyard, and you shall not gather the grapes of it.”

That is why natural people may be surprised that you depend on the Lord's Name while they depend on their wealth. Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

2. He wants you to become a blessing (God does not bless us to accumulate wealth for ourselves)

Genesis 12:2 "And I will make you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great. And you shall be a blessing.” As sons of Abraham, let us be like him. How many people benefit from your blessings apart from your own family? Do your blessings touch people's lives so that they feel good when they see you blessed financially?

3. He does not like to see you relying on your own human abilities but have faith in Him

Luke 22:35 "And He said to them, When I sent you without purse and wallet and sandals, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing.” God often sends you when you have nothing of your own. He doesn't like to see you as if you are helping Him. That's why many people who serve God do not have worldly qualifications or credentials. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 "For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise men according to the flesh are called, not many mighty, not many noble. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, in order to bring to nothing things that are; so that no flesh should glory in His presence.” The truth is that if you are sent by God, He will meet the needs of that ministry without borrowing.

4. He wants you to be patient

God has His own calendar for everything. Our haste makes us fall into traps and even big debts for God's work. Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens.”

James 5:11 "Behold, we count blessed those who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is full of pity and of tender mercy.”

My own experience in serving God:

1. God is opening the door of blessing in the East so that you can use it in the West as well

When God blesses me through my works or through other people, I realize that He wants to see me blessing young ministries. So I can pay for my transport or accommodation when I visit them for ministry.

2. When God sees that you provided spiritual needs free of charge, He opens doors of blessings through other sources. You don't have to expect payment from those you ministered to as if it is a hospital. I have witnessed God opening doors of blessings for me through people completely different from those I ministered to.

The minds of God are unfathomable. Isaiah 40:28 "Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow weak nor weary? There is no searching of His understanding.”

We need God's help as ministers because we are entrusted to stewardship by God Himself:

Ezekiel 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”

Ezekiel 34:10 "So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock. Nor shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouth, and they will not be food to devour.”

May the Lord bless you.

Dr. Lawi Mshana, +255712924234; Korogwe, Tanga, Tanzania