Gerhard and Walther

The office of the ministry is the office of the Spirit whereby the Holy Spirit wants to deal with us for our conversion and salvation. That’s why the hearers should rightly regard it as being of the highest worth.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis III:430.

We see here that, in order for the preachers of the Gospel to rightly attend to their office, God has commanded that they are not to live off the work of their hands. Indeed, woe to them if they desire a quiet, comfortable life, even gold and silver for their enrichment! Such are not servants of Christ, but servants of the belly. Instead, they should receive their necessary sustenance and clothing from those to whom they preach. Since this is the clear commandment of God, can a person be a Christian if he does not want to sacrifice any of his temporal goods so God’s Word would be preached to him?—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 729.