13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:13-17

Paul wasn’t an itinerant evangelist for the money. And he went out of his way to make sure there were no improprieties in his ministry. He knew that money was a pitfall that many after him would fall into.

Billy Graham understood some of these principles and would never go anywhere without another male present. He took a modest salary from his ministry.

The late contemporary recording artist Rich Mullins let his local church board decide what his salary should be (even though he could have been a multi-millionaire). He understood the trappings of wealth so he put it in the hands of those who held him accountable.

There are many many temptations in ministry. Some are very obvious; some are extremely subtle.

Choose a leader you’ve been praying for these past two days. Pray that they will put measures in place to minimize financial and moral temptations. Pray also that they would have good people over them asking the difficult questions regarding temptations and ministry.