Is It Wrong to Monetize Your Ministry Skills?

The question of making money from your ministry skills is a tricky one. 

Because on the one hand, you have televangelists traveling in private jets and eating filet mignon every night (that’s what I imagine rich people do - it’s what I’d do). On the other hand, you have guys like John Piper who have built large, successful ministries and haven’t taken a dollar for themselves beyond their normal salary.

Surely, there has to be some sort of middle ground, right?

Which brings us to the question: Is it wrong to make money from something connected to ministry?

It’s a somewhat complicated question. Ministry is supposed to be about serving. About giving freely. God has freely given us the gift of salvation, and we have the privilege of sharing this gift with others. 

But ministry doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It requires time, tools, finances, and energy. Without those things, you won’t have much of a ministry. You need resources to fuel your ministry, and resources cost money.

Should you use your ministry skills to fund your ministry? What about your life? Is it okay to monetize your skills to pay for your child’s braces (which I’ve learned are insanely expensive)?

Earning money from your ministry skills isn’t automatically wrong. You can do it in ways that honor God and ways that don’t. 

Let’s look more at what the Bible has to say about the subject. 

The Tension Between Calling and Compensation

This is not a new problem brought on by the internet or social media, or anything else. 

For generations, ministry and money have lived in tension. Depending on where your formative spiritual years took place, you may have been taught that “real ministry” is almost, if not entirely, sacrificial. That if you’re doing it for God, you shouldn’t expect payment. 

This isn’t true or Biblical. But there is a tension between wanting to do ministry freely and sacrificially, and getting paid for it. You may have felt it yourself. 

Digital tools allow almost anyone to share their gifts beyond their local church. You can write devotionals, teach leadership courses, or produce worship music. You can offer coaching or create church resources. 

These opportunities have the potential to generate income for you.

But should a pastor charge for leadership training? Should a worship leader sell music written for the church? Should a Christian speaker accept payment for sharing the gospel?

Why This Question Matters More Than Ever

The line between ministry and marketplace has gotten increasingly blurry in recent years. 

You can now easily turn your sermons into eBooks that can be sold on Amazon or a personal website. You can leverage your counseling experience into coaching sessions or your worship setlists into online tutorials. This presents both opportunity and risk.

On one hand, it’s easier than ever to reach people far beyond your congregation. By publishing your content online, you can literally reach an audience of millions. This can be a major gospel opportunity.

On the other hand, there are concerns:

• Does earning income make it less spiritually authentic?
  
• Is it biblical and ethical to charge for ministry materials?
  
• How can we avoid turning the gospel into a commodity?
  

These are good, healthy questions. They force us to look into our hearts and discern the forces that are motivating us to monetize ministry skills. 

To answer the questions, we must look to scripture. 

What the Bible Says About Ministry and Money

The Bible doesn’t speak exhaustively on the subject of ministry and money, but it does provide us with some helpful guideposts.

Work Is Worthy of Wages

There will be times when ministry should be done freely, without any cost to those receiving it. 

But in general, the Bible says that those who devote themselves to ministry should be compensated. 

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:18, “The worker deserves his wages,” and again in 1 Corinthians 9:14, “The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”

Ministry is work. It requires an immense investment of time and energy. And those who labor for the sake of the church deserve to be supported. The Old Testament models the same principle. The Levites and priests were provided for through the people’s tithes so they could focus on serving God’s house (Numbers 18).

Earning income from ministry skills doesn’t make your ministry inauthentic or cheap. Rather, it fuels more ministry. It provides the resources you need so you can serve even more effectively. 

Jesus and His Followers Were Financially Supported

Even Jesus’ ministry wasn’t self-funded. Luke 8:1-3 tells us that several women supported Him and His disciples out of their own means. Jesus didn’t apologize for taking this support. He knew that the support allowed Him and His disciples to have even more of an impact. 

This support wasn’t exploitation. It was collaboration. It allowed Jesus’ followers to travel, preach, and serve without worrying about basic needs. Ministry has always depended on God’s provision through His people.

Warnings Against Greed and Exploitation

Of course, the Bible also warns us about the dangers of using ministry solely as a way of making money. In 1 Timothy 6:5, Paul condemns those “who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” Peter warns against shepherds who pursue dishonest profit (1 Peter 5:2).

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with making income from ministry skills. The problem is when making money becomes the driving priority in your heart. If you start using your ministry skills primarily for making money, rather than serving, things have gone wrong. 

Monetization, Motive, and Mission

Our motives play a huge part in whether it’s appropriate for us to monetize ministry skills. 

When your goal is to sustain your calling and serve people better, it can be an act of stewardship. When the goal is primarily accumulating wealth, it becomes a snare.

Stewardship, Not Exploitation

God gave you gifts that are to be used to serve others. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10). 

What does it mean to be a faithful steward of God’s grace? 

It means using resources, like skills, time, and opportunities, for the good of others and the glory of God.

If you can receive income while being a steward of God’s grace, that’s even better!

Charging for ministry-related work isn’t exploitation if it’s done transparently and fairly. It’s simply recognizing that time and expertise have value. A Christian counselor or worship producer who earns income from their work is not peddling grace. 

Rather, they’re stewarding their gifts responsibly.

Generosity Can Still Lead the Way

Jesus said, “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8). If you’re going to monetize your ministry skills, it’s essential to maintain an attitude of generosity while doing so.

Generosity and income can coexist. You can give away free resources in addition to selling them. For example, if you write a book, you could give away a free digital study guide to help people dig deeper into the book. If someone can’t afford what you’re selling, you can give them a generous discount or even give it to them for free. 

When you have a generous heart, it helps protect you from greed and the temptation to hoard resources. 

Dig Into Your Motives

There may be times when you’re not 100% clear on what’s driving you toward monetization.

If that’s the case, ask yourself:

• Am I doing this to bless others or to build myself up?
  
• Does this primarily serve others or me?
  
• Does this serve the mission of God or just my personal ambition?
  
• Would I still do this if it weren’t profitable?

Take some time to pray through these questions and ask God to give you clarity on your motives.

Common Misconceptions About Money and Ministry

There are some common misconceptions about money and ministry that have the potential to confuse you or make you feel guilty.

"Ministry Should Always Be Free"

Sounds super spiritual, right? Just give it all away. Don’t charge a dime. 

The problem is that you need resources yourself in order to create quality resources for others. If you want to produce worship music, you need to invest some serious cash in recording equipment. Turning sermons into books or courses requires specific tools, as well as the expertise to use those tools. 

Here’s the reality. 

If you consistently underprice or undervalue your work, there’s a good chance you’ll burn out and eventually stop offering it altogether. Charging a fair price helps you serve people longer and more effectively.

"Making More Money Will Corrupt You"

Money itself doesn’t corrupt anything. Rather, it shows you what’s already in your heart. It helps reveal motives, both bad and good. 

You don’t need to fear monetizing your ministry skills. You won’t find yourself suddenly wanting to live in the lap of luxury (unless that’s already in your heart). That’s not to say these desires can’t grow in you over time. Which is why you need to go about the entire business with prayer, proper boundaries, and input from others.   

Paul handled financial support with such integrity that it strengthened his witness, not weakened it. With God’s help, you can do the same.

"People Will Judge You"

Yes. Some people will judge you. People also judged Jesus for doing miracles on the Sabbath and hanging around notable sinners. It’s not wrong just because people judge you for it. 

And let’s be honest. Do you really want the approval of those types of people? No. The only approval that matters is God’s. If you have prayerfully walked through the decision to charge for certain resources, then your conscience is clean. 

Healthy Boundaries for Monetizing Ministry Skills

Clearly identified boundaries help you ensure your income-generating efforts are always done for the glory of God. 

Be Transparent

You don’t want to have a secret side hustle, even if that side hustle is a good thing, like providing coaching or writing devotionals. 

If you serve on a church staff, communicate openly about your outside work. Let your board or pastor know what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, and how it impacts your schedule.

Don’t use church resources for personal gain. Transparency builds trust, and trust creates influence.

Prioritize Your Time

You don’t want your side hustle taking away from devotional, ministry, or family time. There may be occasional times when you have to make an exception, but it shouldn’t be the norm.

Side hustles have the tendency to expand and grow beyond what you first envisioned. This can be a great thing. It’s often a sign that things are going gangbusters. 

But don’t let it spill over into windows of time that should be dedicated to other, more important activities. If you consistently choose your side hustle over reading your Bible or throwing a baseball with your son, you’ll end up with serious regrets. 

Prioritize the things of greatest value so that they don’t slip away from you. 

Stay Generous

God loves and blesses a generous heart. That doesn’t necessarily mean God will specifically bless your side hustle. He might. But God blesses us in 10,000 ways, and He always gives us what’s best for us. 

So keep giving. Bless people with free stuff. Use your ministry skills to semi-regularly serve people without charging them. Tithe from your earnings. Do everything with an open hand. 

Generosity breaks the grip of greed and reminds you that every good thing belongs to God anyway.

How Monetization Can Advance the Mission

When done right, earning income can enhance ministry rather than distract from it.

Serve Longer and More Effectively

Financial stability allows you to serve longer and with greater focus. Rather than stressing about the utilities bill, you can give all your attention to the tasks God places before you. 

Many pastors and missionaries leave ministry not for lack of calling but for lack of support. Creating additional income streams can keep you from burning out and help you maintain your passion for the mission.

Expand Your Reach and Impact

Extra money can expand the reach and impact of your ministry. The money can be used to fund the creation of free resources. Or to support the work of missionaries. Or to buy groceries for the single mom who is struggling to make ends meet. 

When you use your profits with purpose, it makes you that much more effective in serving the Lord.

Final Thoughts: Earning Isn’t Evil

When Christ remains the center, monetizing your ministry skills is an act of faithfulness. You’re not “selling the gospel”. You’re stewarding your gifts in a way that allows you to keep giving them.

Monetizing your skills can do much more than generate additional income. It can position you to have maximum impact for the glory of God.

So whether you’re a church leader, creative, or entrepreneur, remember Paul’s words: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Let every part of your work, paid or unpaid, point people toward the One who gave it all freely for you.

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