Why Pay Cell Leaders? IT IS SCRIPTURAL 1 CORINTHIANS 9:7-11 NKJ
7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about?
10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?1 TIMOTHY 5:18 NKJ
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
INCENTIVES WORK People do what they have motivation to do. The more motivation they have, the more they will do something.
Motivating people with only far-distant future rewards is difficult. Some quick reward is usually necessary to move most people to action, even when there are also future rewards.
Most people can do more and do better than they are now. To get them to requires incentive.
Most of us desire to do better than we usually do. Our intentions are good, but many things clamor for our time and attention.
We must face reality. Money is necessary to exist and function in the world. If we have a family, we have a desire, and an obligation, to take care of them. Doing so requires money -- which takes time to get.
Time In today's fast-paced and fragmented society, time is at a premium. Even if people want to do more in the Kingdom of God, finding the time is difficult for them.
Everyone has only a limited amount of time. We are all forced to make choices, because we cannot do everything.
Many people feel their choices are already made for them, because making a living takes all their time. No matter how much those people may desire to help others, and how guilty they may feel about not doing more, they see no way to do so.
Why should they have to get a second job working for the world's system? Why not have a way where they can work for the Kingdom of God and be supported by their efforts?
Should only those working full-time for God be supported in their efforts? Did God intend for full-time workers to be completely supported and part-time workers to receive nothing?
Most of us know people who have been in some direct sales plan. Suddenly, they began many activities, such as attending meetings and selling to friends and relatives, which they never did before, and probably did not enjoy. Why?
Compensation is a great incentive for people.
If the Church is to grow, workers are needed. The more workers there are, the more the Church will grow. Not only must workers be attracted, but they must be able to do that to which they are attracted.
Paying Cell Leaders would allow those who desire to do more for God to be able to do so.
If masses of people are going to do something, they must be able to afford the time. They must have more motivation to work for God, than they do to use their time for something else.
Without a church structure giving them real, immediate incentive for spreading the Gospel, other things (like selling soap or cosmetics), will attract the time and effort of most Christians.
Serve God For Free? Some may object by saying that we should all just serve God freely, without expecting anything in return. That sounds spiritual -- but is it correct? Does God motivate us by offering any compensation, or reward? If God does it, can it be wrong?
Is compensating full-time ministers wrong? Does pay automatically corrupt their motives? Then why would paying those ministering part-time be wrong?
Cell Leaders are part-time Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists. If the main Pastor receives pay, why not pay the Cell Leader also?
Will paying Cell Leaders corrupt their motives? Maybe some people. Some have wrong motives in anything they do.
We should focus on what compensation will do for the majority. God does. He knew there would be tares growing among the wheat, but He said, in effect, not to worry about them (to leave them alone, Matthew 13:29).
We must not be stopped from doing good, by too much worry about something bad happening.
The question to ask is: Would financial compensation allow more Christians to spend more time making disciples?
Will Everyone Agree? Will the devil be against Christian workers being paid? He has to be against anything which will help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
How do you think the devil will try to stop the belief that Cell Leaders should be paid? Will he issue a news release informing us of his opposition?
No! Most likely, the devil will try to stir up opposition through religious leaders. So, do not be surprised if every religious person does not immediately think paying workers is a great idea.
Why Has This Not Been Done Before? Faith is required to give away some of what you have been getting. Thinking about it is also necessary. Most people go through life never thinking, just doing what has always been done before.
Most church leaders, even if they have thought of doing so, have not seriously considered paying Cell Leaders. They were struggling with the obligations they already had, without adding more.
(There has been a serious lack in church finances, compared to what God intended. The reason is because most Christians have not been faithful to worship God with their giving.)
Also, before computers were readily available, it would have been difficult to do on any large scale.
Conclusion If our present approach is Scriptural, and working satisfactorily -- we should not change.
However, if our approach is not Scriptural, and not working to reach the world with the Gospel -- we have no other choice -- we must change!
We must operate God's way. We must not hold back those who are doing the work, but let them be partakers of the fruit of their ministry labor.
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