Quote:
Originally Posted by philjones
I was taught the principle you espouse here by a Godly example. My dad was quite successful in a HVAC and Plumbing contracting business. When God called him to go back into full time ministry he locked the doors on his business... never sold it or the name... just went and preached. He had plenty set aside for his tomorrows, was debt free and didn't need the income from a sale of his business to survive. During my growing up years (when he was still in secular business) Dad always had a new Ford pickup and Mom always drove a Lincoln Town Car. We never lived extravagantly but we did live comfortably.
When Dad returned to full time ministry he sold his truck and Mom's Lincoln and bought a nice but used truck and he bought Mom a new but more middle of the road automobile. He did not want to ever live in such a manner as to detract from the purpose of his ministry. Although he believed the tithe belonged 100% to the ministry, he never took more personal income from the church than what was equal to 10% more than the mean as opposed to the average income of the congregation. He did not want to live higher than the average individual in his church and he certainly didn't want to compare himself to the most wealthy in the church so he didn't consider their income in establishing the mean. He served his community not just his church. He was always known as the pastor of the town or community where we lived because he was not called to the saints but to the people of that area.
Dad has been dead for 12 years as of May the 8th and to this day I have non-Pentecostal folks in the Longville/Ragley, LA area come up to me and recount some act of kindness or generosity or compassion that they experienced through their interactions with Dad! He was a shepherd and did not exclude any from his oversight and care.
I thank God for that example of what it means to be a pastor! His crown is probably quite a site to see!  |
Thank you for that inspiring post.
What a genuine man of God, what a shepherd, what a demonstration of the heart of the Chief Shepherd!
What a legacy you have.
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