The Laborer is Worthy of his Wages

“For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.'” – I Timothy 5:18

Do you find yourself a victim of Christians looking for discounts or free services simply because you are a Christian business? Is there a biblical basis for this? Do you value the products and services of other believers enough to pay what they are worth?

If you are a Christian entrepreneur doing business with other Christians, you have most likely been a victim of the old “Can you hook me up” question. Christians have a tendency to prey on other Christian entrepreneurs looking for a deal, and yet they are willing to pay full price to non-Christians, because of a backward worldview that says Christians should do business with each other at the lowest rate possible.

I have actually heard Christian entrepreneurs complain about ministries that were unwilling to do business with them simply because they did not want to provide their products or services for free, even though these entrepreneurs were actually offering better rates and quality than their non-Christian competitors. This is wrong and inconsistent with sound biblical teachings.

What about those instances when Christian entrepreneurs provide lesser or poorer quality services and expect to keep the business just because they are Christians? This too is wrong. Christian entrepreneurs should hold themselves to a higher standard. Christianity should not be used as a tool for manipulation. Just as it is wrong to expect Christian entrepreneurs to offer their services for free or at a lower price, it is also unacceptable for them to expect to gain business because they are Christian businesses, especially when their quality and service is poor. Though there are times when we should go the extra mile to support each other in business as other communities do, this should never be at the expense of quality and excellence.

I’m proud to say that a number of Biblical Entrepreneurs I work with not only go the extra mile to do business with other Christians, but they also will gladly pay full price. They understand that doing business with Christians keeps dollars circulating within our micro-economy and also indirectly supports various churches and ministries through tithes and offering. In addition, doing business with non-Christians takes dollars outside our micro-economy, and it is often used to support causes that are inconsistent with our values.

In I Timothy 5:18, the Apostle Paul, as he attempts to instruct us in the value of providing for our church leaders and those who minister to us spiritually, borrows a statement from Jesus to make his point: “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” This statement is a marketplace principle that both Jesus and Paul used to emphasize the fact that those who devote themselves to prayer and teaching of the Gospel are laborers, and they too deserve to be compensated for their labor. The only difference between those laborers who are devoted to ministering to us spiritually and those who provide us with natural products and services is that the former is compensated through tithes and free love offerings which spring out of generosity and gratitude. The other is compensated through a fee that is attached to the product or service. Just as kingdom entrepreneurs must understand the value of generosity in God’s economy, we all, especially those who depend on the generosity of others for their provision, must understand and teach the value of fair wages in doing business with Christians so they can be equity in our micro-economy.

Why is it important to pay a fair price in doing business with other Christians?

1. It enables us to honor others for their products and services – I Timothy 5:18, Romans 12:10
2. It enables us to pay for our own provision – 2 Thessalonians 3:10
3. It allows Christian entrepreneurs to provide for themselves and their families – I Timothy 5:8
4. It allows us to support each other – Philippians 2:1-4
5. It enables us to build profitable businesses – Matthew 25:28-30
6. It enables kingdom entrepreneurs to be generous through their giving – Ephesians 4:28
7. It enables us to be good stewards over the resources God has entrusted to us – Matthew 19:21, I Corinthians 4:2

Of course, there are times when Christian Entrepreneurs are compelled, out of a sense of personal generosity and conviction, to give their services for free or at a reduced rate to ministries or certain individuals. This should be encouraged, but not demanded. One should not compromise his or her business model or behave out of a sense of guilt or obligation. You also must be careful not to give that which God has given you to sell, unless it is under the appropriate circumstances, and of course you also should not sell that which God has given you to give.

My prayer for you today is that God will compel you to support Christian entrepreneurs by paying them what they are worth and that He will give you the wisdom to know when to sell and when to give without compromising your business model or the principles of generosity.