$1.1 Million “Preacher”?
https://www.incpu.org/1.1-Million-dollar-preacher.htm
https://www.incpu.org/1.1-Million-dollar-preacher.pdf
How
can a “pastor”/”preacher” spend about $1.1 Million per year? What would he buy?
Let’s analyze this a little and see if we can make this a little more
manageable to understand, and then look at what Jesus said.
So,
first, let’s guess that 10% of that $1.1 Million goes into giving back into
that church. Fair enough? Hmm… well, let’s be generous, and say that he likely
gives a little more than his 10%, so we’ll say he gives 20%. That leaves $990,000
per year to still spend.
So,
let’s be generous and say that his house-payments might $5,000 per month =
$60,000 per year. How big is that house? WOW!... So, anyway, that would leave about $930,000
per year to still spend.
How
much would he and his family spend on electricity, water, and lawn maintenance?
So, let’s guess that he’s spending about $1000 per month = $12,000 per year. So,
that leaves $918,000 per year to still spend.
So,
how many additional houses does this pastor own? Would that be 1, 2, or 3? Would
they be here in the US or abroad? How much would those property taxes, etc –
be? Hmm… So, those are questions that we aren’t able to answer. Let’s think on
it and continue exploring.
So,
let’s look at something else the “pastor” might be spending that money on. So,
let’s do the what-if scenario that this pastor buys 2 new cars a year at
$75,000 each - $150,000. That still leaves $768,000 per year to spend.
Now,
how much would food cost for a pastor and his wife? Maybe $1000 per week? Using
that rough estimate, that would be about $52,000. An average family in the
middle class can spend $200 to $500 per week on food, which would be about $10,400
to $26,000 per year. So, let’s guess this pastor goes to a restaurant with his
friends 3 times a week, and we’ll say they treat their friends and pay for the
meal, and we’ll guess that it’s $200 per restaurant meal. So, that’s $600 per
week, and that would be $31,000 per year. So, $52,000 + $31,000 = is about
$83,000 for food per year, including restaurants.
So,
that leaves $685,000 per year left to spend.
What
does a “pastor” spend the rest of that money on? Travel? And? I mean, really: How
many air plane tickets and hotel rooms can you buy with $685,000 per year?
As
you can see a $1.1 million salary per year is a *huge* amount. And, I’m sure
we’ve guessed wrong on several parts, but we don’t have more info to figure it
out more closely. And yet, we posted this because we want people to think
through and kind of explore the math, and to just ponder/realize that there is
something very wrong with the heart and message of pastors who make $1.1 Million
per year…
What
did Jesus say?
“24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, earth
trinkets, sin-pleasures].” (Matthew 6:24)
“34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange
for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will
be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.’” (Mark 8:34-38)
Conclusion:
What
does Joel Osteen do with $55+ Million per year?
What
do Joyce Meyer and her husband David do with her $900,000 per year, and David’s
$450,000 per year?
What
does Creflo Dollar do with his $80 Million per year?
What
does Franklin Graham do with $409,000+ per year?
What
does Mr. MacArthur do with his $1Million per year?
Why
does Mr. Hybels proudly announce his low salary, but hide his royalties on books
and speeches?
Why
is Benny Hinn’s salary unknown?
Why
is TD Jakes’ salary unknown?
Why
does Rick Warren pretend he forgoes an annual salary, and yet he hides how much
he makes on book royalties and speeches?
The
apostle Paul lived very differently from them. “32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to
God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s
silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you
yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for
those who were with me. 35 I
have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the
weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to
receive.’”” (Acts 20:32-35)
Have
these men (and lady)never read Jesus’ own words? “19 Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and
steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break
in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
God
makes it plain in the Bible: No man can serve two masters. These men and lady
(and more just like them) seem to have chosen quite clearly who they serve, and
it’s not the God of the Bible.
~
May we learn not to follow their sin-filled ways, but to live boldly for Jesus,
following His pattern and preaching all of His Word, in season and out of
season (2nd Timothy 4:1-5). ~ Watching, Preaching, Praying, growing
servants of Christ, the FEDBP team