christundivided said:
.tim said:
christundivided said:
mamamia said:
I don't believe that missionaries should live in poverty, but what's the Biblical way for missionaries to handle their money...er...God's money? A family member of mine who is an IFB missionary, gets enough financial support to have a huge nest egg. He wants to use this money to purchase investment property in the states so they have something to fall back on if/when they come of the field. I'm struggling with whether or not this is right. Don't churches give this money with the intention of it being used for ministry purposes, not retirement? Would love to hear some thoughts on this.
You know.... stuff like this happens all the time. All the time. Missionaries usually run in circles of missionaries. They learn from each other and form friendships and partnership that foster this type of situation.
I can give you their response....... and in some ways... its a good response....
They will tell you they don't have a livelihood in which to get a retirement package or build experience to work their way "up the social ladder" so as to give future stability to their families.
On its face, they are right to some degree. However, its my opinion that they shouldn't "forgo" working to be a missionary. They should work just like anyone else. Learn a trade. Get experience. Get a job on their mission field. Be like the people they are working to help.
Its become rather common over the last 10 years for "missionaries" to get support to go to some area of the US they want to retire and live off their monthly support. Sometimes, there are more people looking to be missionaries in the US than any other countries.
I can't help but see some hypocrisy with such things.... I mean.... You really can't get a job in Montana and build a church at the same time!!!!!! What a joke.
Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:1
We are all missionaries in a way. Specially our pastors.
IF we are all missionaries.... Then I'm going to demand almost 30 years of back pay.....
As far as 1 Timothy 5:17 is concerned..... You should really study that little word "honor" your translation calls "paid well". Its it the exact same word used in John 4:44.
Joh 4:44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
You translation must have "For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no "pay" in his own country
We can just read and come to our own conclusions I suppose ...
STRONGS NT 5092: τιμή
τιμή, τιμῆς, ἡ (from τίω, to estimate, honor, perfect passive τετιμαι), from Homer down, the Sept. for עֵרֶך (a valuing, rating), כָּבוד, יְקָר, הָדָר;
1. a valuing by which the price is fixed; hence, the price" itself: of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold, with a genitive of the person Matthew 27:9; with a genitive of the thing, Acts 5:2f; plural, Acts 4:34; Acts 19:19; τιμή αἵματος, the price paid for killing, (cf. 'blood-money'), Matthew 27:6; ἠγοράσθητε τιμῆς (not gratis, but) with a piece, i. e. (contextually, with emphasis) at a great price (Buttmann, § 132, 13; yet see Winer's Grammar, 595 (553)), 1 Corinthians 6:20 (here Vulg.magno pretio); ; ὠνεῖσθαι τιμῆς ἀργυρίου, to buy for a price reckoned in silver, i. e. for silver, Acts 7:16; thing prized (A. V. honor), Revelation 21:24 (Rec.), 26.
2. honor which belongs or is shown to one: the honor of one who outranks others, pre-eminence, δόξα καί τιμή, Hebrews 2:7, 9; 2 Peter 1:17; in the doxologies: τῷ Θεῷ (namely, ἔστω (cf. Buttmann, § 129, 22 Rem.)) τιμή or ἡ τιμή, 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:16; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 7:12; Revelation 19:1 Rec.; the honor which one has by reason of the rank and state of the office which he holds, Hebrews 5:4 (and often in Greek writings; cf. Bleek on Hebrews, the passage cited); veneration: διδόναι, λαβεῖν, τιμήν, Revelation 4:9, 11; Revelation 5:12; deference, reverence, Romans 12:10; Romans 13:7; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Timothy 6:1; honor appearing in the rewards of the future life, Romans 2:7, 10; 1 Peter 1:7; praise of which one is judged worthy, 1 Peter 2:7 (here R. V. text preciousness (cf. 1 above)); mark of honor, πολλαῖς τιμαῖς τιμᾶν τινα, Acts 28:10; universally in phrases: ἐν τιμή, honorably, 1 Thessalonians 4:4 (on this passive see κτάομαι); οὐκ ἐν τιμή τίνι, not in any honor, i. e. worthy of no honor, Colossians 2:23 (others, value; see πλησμονή); εἰς τιμήν, Romans 9:21; 2 Timothy 2:20f (on these passages, see σκεῦος, 1); περιτιθεναι τίνι τιμήν, 1 Corinthians 12:23 (see περιτίθημι, b.); τιμήν ἀπονέμειν τίνι, to show honor to one, 1 Peter 3:7; διδόναι τιμήν, 1 Corinthians 12:24; ἔχειν τιμήν, to have honor, be honored, John 4:44; Hebrews 3:3.
Not every word is translated in exact in any translation.
