Scripture tells us in Acts 18 that Paul was a tentmaker.
[In Corinth, Paul] “met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.”
(Acts 18:1-4 NIV)
Both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament speak of wages in return for work performed.
Laban said to [Jacob], “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
(Genesis 29:15 NIV)
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. …
(Matthew 20:1-16 NIV)
When I am asked to preach in my own church, I gladly work many hours on my message and do not ask for anything in return. It is an honor to be asked to serve God in this way.
On the other hand, if a pastor from another church says that he or she is going to be out of town on a given Sunday, I usually agree to preach and am paid the going rate for a Guest Minister, or at least receive a small honorarium.
The end of The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard says “I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?'”
(Matthew 20:15-16 The Message)
Note that I do not ask for a specific amount but rely on the generosity of the church to determine a fair wage for the services I perform.
In the technical services arena, I have non-profit rates that are a third, sometimes a quarter of what my peers charge for similar services. My big tent making job is to provide technical services for a medium-sized non-profit in Montgomery County, Maryland. Last year I agreed to be paid less than my usual rate for some services performed. I also agreed to have a cap on the number of hours worked.
Nearly a decade ago I was at a seminar on the use of media by churches. The speaker said “Jesus was a leading-edge communicator. If he were here today, he’d be toting a laptop and have an awesome website.”
Paul may have carried thread and needles when he went to Corinth but I doubt that he had any tent poles, cloth, rope or stakes with him. Aquila would have supplied the materials. My small tent making efforts are to build websites for those who would otherwise not have them. I charge a nominal fee for web hosting but I donate much time to help build the websites.
In the spiritual realm we are to love God and in this world to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The Greatest Commandment
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.”
(Mark 12:30-31 NIV)
Judging Others
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
(Luke 6:37-38 NIV)
What is a fair price? Seven or fourteen years of labor for the hand of your daughter in marriage? A denarius for a day’s work in the vineyard? To only give credit and no royalties for use of passages from the NIV or The Message?
In the here an now for big tents or little tents, a worker should be paid for their labor according to whatever the agreement is between the parties involved. If I choose to lower my billing rate or to waive a fee, that is an act of generosity between me and the Lord.
David Robert Lambert 