Material benefits for God’s ministers

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely He says this for us, doesn’t He? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.” 1 Corinthians 9v7-10

God is concerned about the welfare of His ministers and those He has placed in charge of His people. We see in the old testament how He made provision for the Levites, ensuring that they were taken care of. Paul is alluding to this here. Now some ministers like Paul may choose not to exercise the right of benefitting where they have sown spiritually, but it does not mean they are not entitled to it. The illustrations Paul uses above give some more insight into this matter. Can you imagine a country sending a soldier off to war to defend the country but asks the soldier to fend for himself? How would the soldier manage this? He has to fight and yet think of how to take care of himself and his family. Is it in the enemy’s camp he will begin to look for food? Or imagine a person who plants a vineyard and a farm, and he is not expected to eat a thing from it. Even a servant who works in the vineyard would be expected to get some wages from his work, how much more the farmer of the vineyard himself. Now, the shepherds (pastors and spiritual guides of the church) of the sheep of the Lord Jesus, who is the Chief Shepherd are encouraged to “Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;” (1 Peter 5v2, AMP). Thus profit should not be the motivation for service. However, perhaps you have had a negative perspective on blessing the shepherds God has placed over you, remember they do have a right to material benefits.

Supplementary Text

“If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits? If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9v11-12 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word and Your ministers all over the world. We pray that You will bless, keep, and strengthen them and provide for their every need. We pray that we will be channels of blessing for Your ministers in Jesus name we pray, amen.