Biblical Precedent for Charging for Counseling and Personal Advocacy Services

CORE SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES

1. The Worker is Worthy of His Wages

Luke 10:7 - "Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages."

1 Timothy 5:17-18 - "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker deserves his wages.'"

Application: Those who dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to ministry labor are entitled to receive compensation for their work. Personal advocacy sessions require intensive preparation, focused attention, spiritual warfare, emotional investment, and often hours of prayer and follow-up. This is legitimate work deserving of fair compensation.

2. Those Who Serve at the Altar Share in the Offerings

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 - "Don't you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

Application: Just as priests and Levites were supported by the tithes and offerings of the people they served, those engaged in ministry work—including counseling, advocacy, deliverance, and spiritual care—have a biblical right to receive support from those who benefit from their service.

3. Honoring the Value of What is Given

Proverbs 3:9-10 - "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

Matthew 10:8 - "Freely you have received; freely give." (Often misunderstood)

Context of Matthew 10:8: This verse is commonly taken out of context. Jesus was sending the disciples out on a specific short-term mission with instructions not to take money bags or extra provisions because they would be provided for by those they ministered to (v. 10 - "the worker is worthy of his keep"). He wasn't establishing a universal prohibition against compensation for ministry, but rather instructing them to trust God's provision through the generosity of those they served.

Application: When people invest financially in their own breakthrough, healing, and transformation, they often value it more deeply and engage more seriously with the process. Free services can sometimes be taken lightly or not honored. Exchange creates accountability on both sides.

4. Sustainable Ministry Requires Resources

Philippians 4:15-18 - "Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only... Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphrodaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God."

2 Corinthians 11:8 - "I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you."

Application: Paul accepted financial support for his ministry work so he could focus on the mission without distraction. Similarly, charging for counseling and advocacy sessions allows ministers to:

• Dedicate focused time without the burden of working secular jobs
• Invest in ongoing training and development
• Maintain the energy and capacity to serve with excellence
• Support their families while doing kingdom work
• Scale the ministry to reach more people

5. Sowing and Reaping Principle

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Galatians 6:6 - "Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor."

Application: When people sow financially into their own spiritual growth, healing, and freedom, they activate the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. They're not just paying for a service—they're investing in their own breakthrough and partnering with the minister in kingdom work.

6. Jesus and the Disciples Were Supported

Luke 8:1-3 - "After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."

Application: Jesus' ministry was financially supported by those who benefited from it. This establishes a clear biblical precedent that ministry work can and should be supported by those who receive from it.

7. Preventing Burnout and Enabling Longevity

Exodus 18:13-23 - Jethro counsels Moses that he cannot sustain doing everything himself. He needs structure, delegation, and support systems.

Application: Ministers who try to provide endless free services often burn out, become resentful, or are forced to abandon their calling to meet basic needs. Charging appropriate fees:

• Honors the minister's time and calling
• Prevents exploitation and burnout
• Ensures the ministry can continue long-term
• Allows the minister to show up fully present rather than exhausted and distracted

ADDRESSING COMMON OBJECTIONS

Objection 1: "But Jesus healed people for free!"

Response: Jesus also:

• Was supported financially by patrons (Luke 8:3)
• Instructed workers to receive their keep (Luke 10:7)
• Commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from it (1 Cor 9:14)
• Did not have a family to support or rent to pay

Jesus operated in a unique itinerant ministry context with direct supernatural provision. He established principles for how ongoing ministry work should be sustained—and those principles include financial support from beneficiaries.

Objection 2: "Shouldn't we just trust God to provide?"

Response: Charging for services is trusting God to provide—through the people He sends. God rarely drops money from heaven. He provides through:

• Employment (2 Thess 3:10)
• Generous people (Phil 4:15-18)
• Kingdom partnerships (3 John 1:5-8)
• Those who benefit from ministry (1 Cor 9:11)

Refusing to receive is actually refusing God's provision through His established channels.

Objection 3: "What about the poor who can't afford it?"

Response: This is addressed through:

• Sliding scale fees for those in genuine financial hardship
• Scholarships or pro-bono sessions as the Lord leads
• Group offerings that make services more affordable
• Wisdom and discernment about when to serve freely

Having a fee structure doesn't mean never serving the poor—it means having sustainability to continue serving, including the poor. Ministers who burn out serving everyone for free eventually serve no one.

James 2:15-16 warns against offering spiritual blessings while ignoring practical needs—but it also doesn't command that we bankrupt ourselves or our ministries in the process.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF PAYMENT FOR SPIRITUAL SERVICES

Old Testament Precedent

1 Samuel 9:7-8 - When Saul went to consult Samuel the prophet, he brought payment: "Saul said to his servant, 'If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?' The servant answered him again. 'Look,' he said, 'I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.'"

2 Kings 5:15-16 - Naaman offered payment to Elisha after being healed. While Elisha refused in that instance, the offer itself demonstrates that paying for prophetic ministry was culturally normative and not considered inappropriate.

Application: It was understood and accepted that those seeking counsel, prophecy, or spiritual intervention would offer compensation to the person providing that service.

PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

The Purpose of Charging is NOT:

• To get rich or exploit people
• To make ministry a business divorced from compassion
• To exclude the poor from receiving help
• To operate in greed or selfish ambition

The Purpose of Charging IS:

• To honor the value of the work and the worker
• To create sustainable ministry that can serve more people over time
• To establish healthy boundaries and mutual respect
• To allow ministers to focus on their calling without distraction
• To activate the sowing/reaping principle in people's lives
• To ensure quality, preparation, and excellence in service
• To prevent burnout and maintain longevity in ministry

CONCLUSION

Charging for Personal Advocacy Sessions is scripturally sound because:

1. The worker deserves wages (Luke 10:7, 1 Tim 5:18)
2. Those who serve at the altar share in offerings (1 Cor 9:13-14)
3. Biblical precedent shows financial support for ministry (Luke 8:3, Phil 4:15-18)
4. It creates sustainable ministry that serves more people long-term
5. It honors both the minister's calling and the recipient's investment
6. It follows the pattern established by Jesus and the apostles
7. It prevents exploitation and burnout

The key is maintaining the right heart:

• Serving with excellence and integrity
• Being led by the Spirit in pricing and provision
• Making accommodation for genuine financial hardship
• Never making money the motivation for ministry
• Always prioritizing people's transformation over profit

"The laborer is worthy of his hire" is not a suggestion—it's a kingdom principle established by Jesus Himself.