Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief

Harry S. Truman is alternately credited with saying, “You can’t get rich in politics unless you’re a crook” or “Show me a man that gets rich by being a politician, and I’ll show you a crook.” Unfortunately, neither quote can be verified, although it isn’t hard to picture the only president from Missouri, the “Show Me State,” as having mouthed those words.

However, in his personal diary, dated April 1954, Truman did write the following: “No young man should go into politics if he wants to get rich or if he expects an adequate reward for his services. An honest public servant can’t become rich in politics. He can only attain greatness and satisfaction by service.”

Based on those sentiments, I wonder what ol’ Harry would think about Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi… just to name a few. Apparently, more than a few "bucks stopped here" when crossing their individual desks.

Here is the net worth of those five “public servants” before, during, and after their times in office…

Joe Biden: $2.5 million in 2008; $8 million in 2020; $10 million in 2023

Barack Obama: $1.3 million in 2008; $70 million in 2023; potentially $242.5 according to American University

Bill and Hillary Clinton: Because of Bill’s legal bills, the Clinton’s were technically in debt when they left the White House in 2001. Today, their combined net worth is estimated at $120 million.

Nancy Pelosi: $290 million in 2023 (up from $170 million in 2018) including $75 million in stocks and $50 million in cash. Pelosi reportedly earns $26 million annually from her stock investments, leading to allegations of insider trading involving her husband, Paul. According to Forbes, she has earned $100 million during her congressional career from lobbying efforts on behalf of wealthy businessmen.

If you are even a casual observer of the Washington swamp, none of the above information should surprise you. Sicken you, yes. Surprise you, not in the least, because sadly, this type of pitiful profiteering at the public’s expense will continue until Congress puts a stop to it.

However, what may surprise – and even disgust – you are the salaries and net worth of some of God’s presumed servants. For instance, Joel Osteen is worth a reported $100 million, which includes a mansion valued at $14-$16 million and a $350,000 Ferrari 458 Italia. Ironically, Joel attended Humble High School, from which he graduated in 1981… I’m guessing with either a pompadour or a bouffant hairdo.

Another pseudo-preacher taking long swigs at God’s trough is Benny Hinn, whose net worth is just $60 million… which begs the question, how does this poor suffering servant manage to make ends meet? The same goes for Steven Furtick, Jr., a pastor, author, and songwriter with the Elevation Worship group based in North Carolina, whose $55 million fortune includes a 16,000 square foot gated estate.

But Joel, Benny, and Steve are mere pretenders to the televangelism throne when compared to Kenneth Copeland, who feathers his $780 million nest with an annual income of $50 million. Coincidentally, Copeland and charlatan both begin with the letter C.

What troubles me the most however, is the number of genuine men of God who are being – in my humble and distinctly minority opinion – overcompensated for their efforts. I couldn’t respect Franklin Graham any more than I already do, and I absolutely love the relief work he does for disaster victims through Samaritan’s Purse. In fact, I have met Franklin personally and believe him to be the “real deal,” but does he really need to earn $1.2 million per year in compensation… roughly half coming from Samaritan’s Purse and half from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association? Call me “old school,” but pastors and preachers never used to have a net worth of $10 million.

Yes, I realize that the boards of these ministries are the ones who establish the compensation packages for their executives. But the rationale that I hear over and over again, that corporate CEO’s “in the real world” make even more than that, doesn’t fly with me. Why not? Because Christian ministry – just like public office – is a calling, not a career.

From my admittedly unique perspective, full-time ministry should involve a degree of personal sacrifice, and that includes earning a salary that may be less than what you would be worth on the open (and secular) market. Trust me, I am aware that I Timothy 5:17 teaches that a pastor is worthy of “double honor” and that the next verse stresses that a “laborer is worthy of his wages.” But Scripture also says that our treasures are supposed to be laid up in heaven, and I just don’t think that ministers should be multi-millionaires… period.

The last thing I want to see is the world influencing the Church, when it should be the other way around.

(As stated above, I have an enormous amount of respect for Franklin Graham and his work, and there are ministry leaders whose compensation packages far exceed his. Likewise, the CEOs of nonprofit organizations such as the National Rifle Association, City of Hope, and the American Heart Association all earn more than $3 million per year.)