Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (NKJV)
Today, we will consider what Paul’s understanding was of the financial responsibility each believer has within the body of Christ.
Paul begins by saying “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” Words like “share” and in all “good” things and “sow” and “doing good” refer to financial support. This understanding is broadly accepted when it comes to interpreting what Paul is writing in these passages.
Paul gives us an expanded view of financial support when writing to the Corinthian believers,
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Paul finds himself defending his right to expect these Corinthian believers to help in his support. He is addressing the same issue with the Galatian believers. Others were coming and demanding financial support that did not have the right to do so. They were building on Paul’s work and bring “false teachings” on top of things. They appealed to the emotions of people rather than biblical principles, as we will see Paul does.
Paul states four powerful aspects of his life in establishing a foundation for a strong word to the believers. Apostle, free, having seen Jesus, and the work of the Lord done in these believers lives.
Notice verse 2 and how paul makes it very personal for these Corinthians. In the same way, Paul has been very personal with the Galatians believers as well.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Whoever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink the milk of the flock?
Paul gets a little testy here in verses 3-6. Let’s take a look at Paul’s challenge to the believers regarding his and Barnabus’s support rights.
The principle of a soldier going to war: When I was inducted into the military at 20, I did not finance my time defending the freedoms of the United States. The American people financed my service to the Country by the taxes they paid.
The planting of a vineyard: The individuals who plant and harvest a Vineyard for another have a right to eat the fruit they are harvesting.
The caring for a flock of sheep and goats: The shepherd who cares for the flock, leading them to green pastures and beside still waters, undoubtedly has a right to drink milk from that same flock.
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
Paul draws his thinking for the Word of God. He speaks as a man with common sense, but his authority is taken from scriptural principles. You don’t keep the oxen from eating while they are separating the grain from the sheath. It is a lesson for us concerning God’s ways of care and support.
He is plowing, and he is who is threshing has hope that they will eat of the produced harvested.
11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Paul is bold and clear with these Corinthians. He states that he and Barnabus had sown spiritual food to the believers at Corinth. He is saying that it is not wrong of him and Barnabus to expect “material things.” What things? The things, such as money that would help to sustain them and enable them to keep on sharing the good news of Christ’s kingdom.
The truth was that others, less worthy, were taking offerings, seeing it as a right. Paul is saying how much more does he and Barnabus have that right.
Nevertheless, we have not used this right but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
Here we have Paul’s true heart revealed. He had not dealt with this right in the past because he did not want the “gospel of Christ hindered in any way!
13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?
Remember that the New Testament was being birthed and developed. Paul draws heavily upon the Old Testament Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. The Old Testament was God’s eternal truth fulfilled in Christ. The principles of the Old are established forever but must be seen in Christ’s fulfillment.
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Paul stated the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. It is not a suggestion but a command.
15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
Even though the Old Testament lays these principles out clearly, it is a command of the Lord to support those who preach the gospel. Paul does not enforce what he has a right to enforce. Paul recognizes that he has a responsibility to the Lord to preach the gospel whether he is paid or not. No boasting for Paul. It is a “necessity” for him to preach regardless of the correct response. He says, “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.”
What a beautiful attitude and response from the apostle Paul:
17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
Paul had his eyes on the prize that Jesus had for him. He preached willingly. No cohesion. Even if it was against what Paul wanted, he recognized a “stewardship” responsibility.
18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:1-18 NKJV
Paul saw that his reward was “the preaching of the gospel.” Would to God, that would be the heart of all His servants who preach the gospel. I am sorry to say that many times the motives of those who preach are not pure. Paul attaches no charge to the preaching of the gospel. He never wanted to “abuse” the authority given to him by the Lord.
For Paul, the responsibility of God’s people to support was entirely theirs. They would have to answer to God for their failure to give appropriately to the one preaching.
In Corinthians and here in Galatians 6:6-10, Paul is leaving it to the mind and heart of God’s people to respond to him appropriately.
I have sought to walk in Paul’s instruction in terms of both giving and receiving.
I have never asked for an offering as a requirement of my going anywhere to preach the gospel of Christ. I receive what is given with gratitude and thanksgiving. I have mentioned the needs necessary to travel and be able to go where those I am going to are limited in their ability to pay for my travel or necessities. God’s people have always responded liberally in their giving.
I love Paul’s encouragement when he declares,
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV).
There is no more excellent life experience than the one lived by faith through Jesus Christ our Lord. We call it here, Living The Adventure. Put your hand in the hand of the master, whether in giving or receiving. He is faithful.