BECOMING A HEALTHY LEADER: Church Leaders And Finances

A brother once sent me a joke, though to me, it wasn’t funny at all. A man had brought his dog to a priest, requesting a funeral service and burial for it. The priest was angry and turned him down, saying it was inappropriate. He then referred the man to a small church down the road, hoping the pastor there might consider it. The man then said, “I hope the small church pastor will be happy to receive a $1 million donation for conducting my dog’s funeral.” Suddenly, the angry priest changed his tone and replied, “Oh! Why didn’t you tell me earlier that the dog was a Christian?”

That short story paints a troubling picture of the wrong financial attitude many ministers have today. Unless we change our mindset and approach to money as leaders in the Body of Christ, we risk corrupting the ministry that has been entrusted to us by the Lord. Today, many top-ranking leaders are running what looks like a ‘cash-and-carry’ ministry, available to the highest financial bidder.

A. THE ROLE OF MONEY IN MINISTRY AND LIFE

(Psalm 62:10; Haggai 2:8; Job 36:11; Job 22:21–26)

Every minister and servant of God needs money both for personal life and for effective ministry.
The scope of ministry often depends on the size of financial resources available.
Doing ministry without money can become frustrating and limiting.
Money is a great servant but a terrible master.
By nature, money never fully satisfies and is never enough.
We spend about two-thirds of our lives either making, spending, saving, or chasing money.
Money can be used for productive and eternal purposes if handled correctly.
God is not against money, but He is against wrong attitudes toward it.
Money has a spiritual dimension—it can either carry the spirit of Mammon or be consecrated for Kingdom use.

Church leaders and ministers need continuous biblical teaching on finance. Sadly, many Bible Schools and Ministry Training Centers have failed to teach a sound doctrine on money. Much of what today’s ministers practice regarding money is what they’ve learned from secular motivational speakers and entrepreneurs, rather than God’s Word.

B. THE MONEY PERSONALITY OF MINISTERS AND LEADERS

(1 Peter 5:3)

As I’ve interacted with leaders from various denominations, I’ve observed the following:

The number of ministers who entered ministry because of money is growing alarmingly.
People with questionable or illegal sources of income are being appointed into leadership in the Church.
The measure of success in some circles is based on financial gain, not on spiritual impact.
Many pastors now:
- Hold programs simply to raise money.
- Preach and prophesy for money.
- Serve for money.
- Give money just to gain more money.
- Will only participate in ministry assignments if there’s a financial reward.

Here are money personality types I’ve seen in ministry:

Taker Personality – Always wanting to receive without giving.
Providence Personality – Doesn’t budget or plan but hides under the excuse, “God will provide.”
Debt Personality – Always borrowing and viewing debt as normal.
Stingy Personality – Finds it hard to give, including not paying personal or ministry tithes.
Covetous Personality – Always dissatisfied and desiring what others have.
Avarice Personality – Full of greed, cheating, selfishness, and theft.
Spendthrift Personality – Wasteful and careless in spending.
Generous Personality – Open-hearted, sacrificial, and faithful in giving to God, the needy, and the Church.

God’s call is not a call to poverty or penury, and neither is it a call to lavish or extravagant living. Ministers are called to be examples—especially in financial stewardship. Yes, we need money for ministry, but we must never be in ministry for money. Your attitude to money will either validate or sabotage your ministry.

C. THE GREAT IDOL OF GOLD

(Daniel 3:1–12, 16–18)

Just as King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden idol for all to worship, today the devil is still raising the idol of money for leaders to bow to.

Ministers are not to pursue money but to attract it through integrity and obedience.
A church that focuses only on money is spiritually bankrupt.
Some leaders now sell ministry positions to the wealthy.
Many water down the message to keep big givers happy.
Financial gimmicks disguised as prophecies have taken over the pulpit.
Some ministries were started with stolen or unclean money.
There’s widespread mismanagement and misuse of church funds.
The health of a church is now judged by how much it remits financially.
Some preachers live in luxury, with expensive cars, properties, and even private jets.
The overemphasis on offerings and seed sowing in nearly every service is now alarming.
One General Overseer had to beg his pastors to stop stealing church money, but the root cause of the stealing wasn’t addressed.
A man of God was warned by the Lord to stop collecting money from a wealthy man, because it was blood money. Each time he received it, someone would die in his church.
Another elderly minister joined a city-wide crusade, and the money raised was shared among leaders. God told him to return his portion and confess in seven churches, or he wouldn’t make heaven. He obeyed, and died three months later.

Richard Halverson once said:
“Jesus Christ spoke more about money than any other single subject. When it comes to a man’s true nature, money is the exact index of his character. The way a man handles money reveals his true character.”
How true that is!

D. RIGHT MONEY ATTITUDE FOR CHURCH LEADERS

(Job 36:11; 1 Timothy 6:17–19)

Money should:

Bring moderate comfort to your life.
Bring joy to others through your generosity.
Help interpret and fund the vision of others.
Add value to lives around you.
Expand the boundaries of God’s Kingdom.
Carry the gospel to unreached places.
Be sent ahead to heaven through giving to widows, orphans, the poor, and missionary support.

If you don’t pre-determine your purpose for money, you won’t fulfill God’s financial purpose when it comes.

E. HOW TO LEAD YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE WELL

Get educated about money – (Proverbs 18:15). Ignorance will make money flee from you.
Be financially wise – (Proverbs 10:14). Learn how to manage, grow, and multiply money.
Draw closer to God – (Job 22:21–26). Intimacy with God invites divine provision.
Break financial curses – Repent and make restitution where you or your family have misused money.
Be purged of wrong money attitudes – Greed, stinginess, covetousness, etc., must go.
Have honest work or a source of income – Most financial blessings come through work.
Don’t rush into full-time ministry – If you lack a personal income source, you will be controlled by those with money.
Understand how God supplies needs:
- Like Adam – God supplies without asking.
- Like Moses – God instructs you to ask others.
- Like Paul – God blesses the work of your hands.
Build finances gradually – It takes saving, planning, and prayer to grow wealth God’s way.
Pray for financial partners – God can raise people to support your calling (Luke 8:2–3).
Live within your means – Ensure income is greater than expenses.
Develop your personal gift/ministry – Become someone people invite and pay to listen to.
Grow your financial capacity – Be someone God can trust with more resources.
Be a generous giver – Give freely to God, His servants, His people, and the poor.
Create at least four income streams – Don’t rely on just one source. Possible streams: honorarium, salary, books, property rental, etc.

Let every leader in God’s house remember: Money is a tool, not a god. It must serve Kingdom purpose, not personal ambition. If we handle it rightly, it will serve us well. If we mishandle it, it will become a snare.