The worst poverty is spiritual poverty. Some years ago, a prospective seminary student wrote a letter declining to attend the seminary because his wife, a physician, would have had an income reduction if she had to move her practice to the town where the seminary was located. The prospective student explained that they would be unable to manage if his wife's income would be reduced from $150,000 to $100,000 per year. This declination was a net gain for the seminary. While this family was rich in the things of this world, one can't help but lament their poverty in the things of God. The holy ministry is not exactly a cash cow for those who are called by the Lord into His harvest fields. People often attempt to discourage promising young people from taking up church work vocations by pointing out to them how poor they will be if they work in the church, where the pay is poor, the hours long, and the creature comforts few. When I made it known that I would be going to seminary to be a pastor, my relatives encouraged me to consider medicine or the law instead, because "they had so much more upside income potential." Yet rich people can be poor indeed, if they do not have the one thing needful (Lk 10:42).

The Lord Jesus keeps us from spiritual poverty by sending preachers into the harvest fields that they might rightly proclaim the Word of God among us. Where the Word of God is proclaimed there can be no poverty. He Himself sees to the needs of His church by sending laborers into the harvest. There is no pride of place in the Son of God who, though He is the good Shepherd, does not fail to send undershepherds to gather and care for the sheep. He Himself has sown the seed, watered the seed with His blood, and sent out His harvesters to bring in the growth. The joy of the harvest comes to those whom He sends. As Isaiah says, "you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest" (Is 9:3). The precious souls for whom Christ died are the greatest riches of the church, because the price paid for them is so high (Ps 49:7-8). If church workers must face poverty for the sake of these pearls of great price, so be it; they will still not be poor. This is why the Lord says that our constant prayer should be that He would send laborers into the harvest (Mt 9:38).

"The Lord Christ himself complains that He is lacking such shepherds. He says, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest' (Mt 9:37-38).

"Indeed, the whole world stands open, if only someone would want to pasture it, as St. Paul says, 'If one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task' (1Ti 3:1). One must not compel, run after, and look for (I mean the Christians who would like to be saved) such shepherds; and one cannot find enough of them. For the burghers and peasants too say now, 'Why should I let my son go on with his studies? He will be a beggar if he becomes a pastor. I would rather let him learn a trade or become a merchant.' Well then, if churches and schools too become barren of God's word, then those who have given the cause for such desolation, be it through the theft of church goods or the keeping away of children from the schools or however they hinder, or help to hinder-they will have to assume the responsibility here and at the Last Judgment.