Here's your daily devotional!

If you wish to receive these free devotionals every weekday by E-mail, click the button below. Note: you'll have to log in or create your membership account first. Membership in the League is free. Join now!

Sign up to receive the Daily Devotional

“"A Paycheck Cashed in Heaven, not on Earth"”

Thoughts for Today:

In our passage today, Paul addresses those who are involved in ministry for the wrong reasons. In fact, he has some pretty harsh words for them: "For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ." In other words, some people pretend to serve God and be committed to His people, but are really only interested in a paycheck. And when the money ends so does the commitment to ministry.

To further illustrate this point, a pastor recently shared an experience he had with a young pastor who came to his church and asked for financial support in order to plant a church in a neighboring community. The elder board prayed and then agreed to provide six months of support. Unfortunately, when the six months ended the new church was not self-supporting and therefore unable to pay the pastor's full salary. So what was his response? Just how committed to the ministry was he? Did he get a part time job to help support himself until the ministry was able to do so? No, he left to take a paid staff position with another church. Ministry was more of a job and a created opportunity for him personally, rather than a calling from the Lord. How do we know? By his lack of commitment.

Jesus called these types of people "hired hands". (John 10:12-13: "The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.")

Questions to Ponder:

What is your motivation in ministry? Is it to serve or simply to be compensated financially like any other job? God's paycheck is cashed in heaven, not on earth. Where is your deposit being made?

Sign up to receive the Daily Devotional

There's nothing like God's Word to create purpose in your life that lasts the entire day and beyond. We encourage you to Read, Carry and Share the Word of God. Pocket Devotions are sent by E-mail every weekday (Monday to Friday). On weekends we encourage you to be creative and study on your own in any area of Scripture where God leads you.

You can start from Day 1 at any time. Messages are sent automatically. Subscribe now! You may unsubscribe at any time.

About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.