First of all, I think this is a bit funny. But, agreeing with the impossible is possible, but being correct is unlikely. However, finding a common ground for communication has the possibility of both parties finding a common ground and finding truth.
Apart from preconceived ideas and prejudices, money can (and often is) one of the greatest obstacles to harmony. Especially, if one of the parties loves money more than anything else. The Apostle Paul knew this and worked as a tentmaker for much of his ministry. Regarding this aspect of his ministry, he said…
1 Corinthians 9 ( World English Bible )
6 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
8 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,
10 or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
11 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
12 If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
15 But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.
17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
19 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23 Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
Having worked as a preacher for a number of years, I can tell you from personal experience that what Paul said is true. If people supply you with money, they begin to think that they are your BOSS and can order you about. This sort of pressure can subconsciously affect your ministry and therefore your limit your effectiveness as a preacher of the Gospel. It is a fact that people will give you more leeway once they realize that you are partially or totally supporting yourself.
If by working, you can think you are independent, you will become more independent. Humm, what was that again about the man who thought he was invisible? Reality can be hard to see sometimes...
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