Here's my response to an earlier post on Nairaland, titled;

Are you maximizing your talents for God?
Some of us have commercialise our talents, especially guitarists, saxophonists, key boadrists and so on. Is it good to force Church to pay, rather than using and maximising our talents for God.

The Psalmist once said; "I Will Not Offer Unto the Lord That Which Cost Me Nothing..."

I would advise musical instrumentalists not to cultivate the RECENT culture of being paid for playing in Churches (despite the fact that the Old Testament classified them as part of the Levites - which sometimes being used as a leverage for negotiations/demands and for their entitlement mentality.)

However, their efforts could be appreciated intermittently, but I think it shouldn't be negotiated or a sort of payrolled-reward... Maybe that's one of the reasons why most modern Churches now appear to be like a mere social gathering rather than being the true definition of a CHURCH. Just imagine the Modus Operandi of the Church at Antioch - the era when Christianity was at its peak (as documented in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles).

By the matter of fact, for the spirit of God to move in a Church, all the constituent worshippers, most especially the Levites must be filled with the Holy Spirit (and not just 'anyhow' Spirits). Just imagine a situation where a paid instrumentalist don already 'shayo' before playing piano or drum or sax or etc...? How would you expect the Spirit of God to move in such a gathering? And besides, most of these paid instrumentalists have never passed through the established workers' training in-line with most Churches' standard of service. I've seen several scenarios in the past.
However, I'm so sorry for being blunt here, the truth is always bitter...

Here's a lil recommendation; I would advise the MODERN Churches to adopt the culture of sponsoring some of their full-time members to music schools for the extensive training on the handling of some musical instruments (whenever the need arises) rather than adopting the habits of payrolling the players, however, there are exceptions.

Have you ever thought about this; most Fellowships on Campus do not pay their instrumentalists, but they still enjoy the services of dedicated/professional players. How about that?

God had a way of repaying His servants for the spent times and for the expended efforts in His vineyard... Sometimes, we don't need to look up to a man for rewards.

MORAL LESSON: prayer as a reward for churchy service is much more better than financial rewards, reason being, a man can always exhaust the money - even within a day, but the impacts of prayers could last for decades - most especially when strength fails...

Also, as a guy man, don't take God's grace for granted, many people are really looking for that ample opportunity to have the skills of playing musical instruments - but they could not just have the dexterity, so be thankful for being musically-skilled by God, and see it as a great privilege to even be part of the Levites of His sanctuary... God loved David because of His musical dexterity... think about this...

And here's the summary of everything, a Church is more than a mere religious gathering; it is the builder of societal morals, ethics, and values. Reason being that; A nation could be guided by constitutional laws, however, religious commandment is the nurturer of humans' conscience..."

Written by Jawolusy

Tell your clerics not to be paid by the church also.

NarcissistKing:
Tell your clerics not to be paid by the church also.

Read through my post again, I already addressed your raised-point;

However, their efforts could be appreciated intermittently, but I think it shouldn't be negotiated or a sort of payrolled-reward...

And besides, do you know the roles of the Levites ?
And that's why we have the full-time Pastors, their heritage is from the house of God. Biblically, they are entitled to part of the fruits brought to the altar...
However, it is optional to accept it, most especially as a part-time Pastor.
Read Nehemiah 10:37
We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.

And we are only talking about instrumentalists here... just know that it's a great privilege to play musical instruments for God, and I see no reason why a pay should be mandated for such heavenly service...

PediakAuthor:

Do you know the roles of the Levites ?
And we have the full-time pastors, biblically, they are entitled to part of the fruits brought to the altar...
However, it is optional to accept it, most especially as a part-time pastor. And we are only talking about instrumentalists here... just know that it's a great privilege to play musical instruments for God, and I see no reason why a pay should be mandated for such heavenly service..

At the bolded, it shows you clearly don't respect them for the talent they have. You see them as an inferior while the clerics are superior.

Irrespective of who anybody is, their talent should be appreciated monetarily or in any other form. Yes, they are doing it for the church, but incentives is not a bad idea. You saying it's a privilege to play for God, but you fail to realize they should be rewarded! Your pastors are doing heavenly service, so they need not monetary reward too! Even in economics, incentives is being recommended

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

NarcissistKing:


At the bolded, it shows you clearly don't respect them for the talent they have. You see them as an inferior while the clerics are superior.

Irrespective of who anybody is, their talent should be appreciated monetarily or in any other form. Yes, they are doing it for the church, but incentives is not a bad idea. You saying it's a privilege to play for God, but you fail to realize they should be rewarded! Your pastors are doing heavenly service, so they need not monetary reward too! Even in economics, incentives is being recommended

What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

This verse will certainly answer your questions and I'm sure it would also cleared your doubts...

Nehemiah 10:37;
We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.