— “A pastor is not a hired employee but God’s servant;yet his faithful labor deserves the church’s gratitude.”
📖 Summary
Pastors are called, not hired.
Thus, gifts such as retirement pay, housing, or a car
should not be seen as entitlements but as expressions of honor and gratitude.
The standard is not legal obligation but the principle of grace.
Churches should act within their means—honorably, transparently, and humbly—
ensuring the focus remains on gratitude, not compensation.
“Honoring a pastor is not payment for service but fruit of love.”
1️⃣ Introduction
“Should pastors receive retirement pay?”
“Isn’t gifting a house or car too worldly?”
“What if the church can’t afford it?”
Scripture doesn’t command it as a right,
but encourages honorable support for those who have faithfully served.
2️⃣ Biblical Foundation
📘 1 Timothy 5:17–18 (ESV) — “The elders who rule well are worthy of double honor… The laborer deserves his wages.”
📘 1 Corinthians 9:13–14 (ESV) — “Those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”
📘 Galatians 6:6 (ESV) — “Share all good things with the one who teaches.”
→ Material care for pastors is a spiritual duty of gratitude.
3️⃣ Theological Insight
📜 John MacArthur — “Financial care for pastors is not a salary issue but a gospel respect issue.”
📜 R.C. Sproul — “A pastoral calling is not a job, yet faithful service deserves tangible gratitude.”
📜 John Piper — “We are not professionals, but churches that neglect their pastors misunderstand grace.”
📜 Westminster Confession, Ch.31 — “Those who labor in the Word deserve appropriate reward.”
4️⃣ Practical Guidelines
| Provision | Purpose | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement pay | Financial stability | Reasonable, within church means, not excessive |
| Housing | Shelter after ministry | Assist if possible, avoid full transfer of ownership |
| Vehicle | Ministry use | Acceptable if work-related, not personal luxury |
| Gift or stipend | Gratitude expression | Voluntary, transparent, without coercion |
| Corporate-level benefits | Material prestige | ❌ Inappropriate for gospel ministry |
5️⃣ Application Principles
1️⃣ Act according to financial capacity.
2️⃣ Decide transparently with church consent.
3️⃣ Emphasize grace, not entitlement.
4️⃣ Avoid burdens for the successor.
5️⃣ Keep focus on gospel mission, not honor systems.
6️⃣ Conclusion
Supporting a retiring pastor is right and biblical,
but it must reflect gratitude, not obligation.
The measure is not money but honor, love, and gospel integrity.
“The truest gift is not wealth,
but the community’s testimony: ‘You glorified God among us.’” — Revito
Faith. Honor. Gratitude. — Revito
🔖 Hashtags
#PastorRetirement #ChurchFinance #JohnMacArthur #RCSproul #JohnPiper #WestminsterConfession #ReformedTheology #FaithHonorGratitude #PrincipleOfGrace #Revito
