1 Corinthians 9:4-6 “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?”
And so as we have seen in the previous passages of scripture, the Lord’s apostles were certainly not wealthy, and actually warned the church against the desire to become rich in this life. Nevertheless, there is also clear evidence in scripture that our Lord took care of all His minister’s needs so that they could live comfortable lifestyles. In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul alludes to the fact that all of the Lord’s apostles refrained from secular work, and that when they travelled around to the churches their wives accompanied them. Clearly the Lord’s apostles did not suffer any financial lack.
1 Corinthians 9:12-18 “If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. (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? (14) Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. (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! (17) For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. (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.”
The apostle Paul and his ministry team operated differently to the rest of the Lord’s apostles however, for even though they had the right to forego secular work and take up offerings from the churches so that they could live from the gospel, they chose not to use that right. The apostle Paul explains his reasoning regarding his decision, in the above quoted passage of scripture. For Paul realized that even though he was preaching the gospel it wasn’t costing him anything to do so, for the Lord had given him both the mandate and the ability to preach. It was for that reason that Paul stated that he could not expect any reward from the Lord on his day of judgement for simply being obedient to God’s call. And so, Paul decided to preach the gospel “without charge”, while he and his ministry team worked with their own hands to supply their needs, rather than allow the church to do so. Thus it was costing Paul and his team to preach the gospel, and he could therefore expect the Lord to reward him on his day of judgement. Nevertheless Paul also limited this aspect of his ministry to the regions of Achaia only (2 Corinthians 11:10), for he did accept offerings from the churches in Macedonia for example (2 Corinthians 11:9). And so the point remains that although the Lord’s ministers were not wealthy men according to this world’s standards, our Lord Jesus nevertheless provided for all of their needs.
1 Timothy 3:1-8 “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach; (3) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; … (8) Likewise, deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the Holy Spirit sets out the qualifications needed by those who want to serve in the church as elders (the word translated bishop can also be translated elder) and deacons. In both instances the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul states that they are not to be greedy for money. Clearly, if the Lord does not want His elders and deacons to be greedy for money, then His ministers should be exemplary in this area, for they are meant to lead His church by example. The vast majority of the Lord’s ministers in the church today will never be tempted in the area of riches, purely because their churches are themselves not very wealthy. But there are certain churches and ministries in the church today that do receive vast amounts of finances. It is these ministers that are tempted in the area of riches. But even among these ministers, there are those who follow after our Lord’s example and live comfortable lifestyles, not accumulating excessive wealth for themselves. However, sadly there are some ministers who succumb to the temptation of riches and do accumulate vast wealth for themselves. No matter how much these ministers defend their wealth; our adversary clearly uses their wealth to blaspheme the way of truth among those in the world. But not only that, for these ministers also cause many in the church to become offended. These ministers need to follow Paul’s counsel, by avoiding behaviour that may cause fellow believers to stumble. To that end the apostle Paul made this comment, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:13).
Michael E.B. Maher
Comments