The following is an excerpt from James M. Mathes’ book A Record of Christian Union and Truth. It addresses the fear some brethren had that paying preachers for their work would “spoil” them.
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But sometimes it is objected to giving preachers a fair and just compensation for their labors, that it would spoil them! It would make them proud, and lift them above their business; and we want a humble ministry; we must therefore keep them poor! Why brethren, have you so little confidence in your public servants that you think they could not bear a comfortable living, without becoming proud! How do you bear it? And why do you think the preachers would become proud, if they were even to become rich? Have you ever seen any of them tried? Did you ever know any of them to be made rich by their brethren? You have known many to become poor, having spent their all in the good work of preaching the gospel: but I doubt exceedingly whether any have, in this country, become rich by it. That this doctrine has been much abused need not be denied: but the abuse of the truth should never cause us to forsake the truth itself.
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Moses Lard wrote something similar to this – They Do Not Believe in Making Preachers Rich