by Tony Clark
I was reading 1 Corinthians recently and was impacted while reading Chapter 9:1. Paul is addressing accusations made against him concerning his legitimacy as an Apostle, and the issue of financial support of his ministry by the church at Corinth. In verse 11 it says “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”
There is a major issue in the church today concerning this issue and there is much at work that is out of line with the Word of God and the Heart of God. It should be the most natural thing in the Kingdom of God to supply the practical needs of those ministering to you, those that have laid down their lives to serve God where your life is concerned and who have no thought for themselves in doing so. It should be a natural reflex – they supply your spiritual need, you supply their natural need. Giving and receiving, ebb and flow. But as Paul addresses in this chapter, the main issue is not whether or not we should do this but rather the underlying acknowledgement of whether or not those ministering to us are truly sent of God. Certain men had questioned Paul’s legitimacy as an Apostle and in doing so accused him of having ulterior motives for his ministry – in this case that he was motivated by selfish gain.
See, a wolf or a charlatan, has no right or place to claim or receive anything from God’s people. Because their motive is selfish gain and they use deceit to get what they want, by pretending to be a messenger or servant of God they coerce the people out of their money – which is his ultimate goal. And those that are jealous of the true servants of God will accuse and try to delegitimize them so that they don’t get what they are due.
In verse 7 Paul quotes the Old Testament, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth the corn.” This is a spiritual law in the kingdom of God. If there is any question in your heart as to whether your leader should be able to receive money for their labour in ministry instead of working in a secular job then it is likely you are delegitimizing the work of the ministry that they do, which ultimately reflects on whether you believe that are genuinely sent by God.
The natural response to the Apostles in the book of Acts was to sell all and lay everything at the feet of the Apostles. It’s what God would have, it’s what the Spirit of God would have. I’m not saying that we should sell our houses and give the money to the church, although that time may very well come again. But it should be a natural response of the children of God to give and support the ministry with our finances – to the degree that we have been shown to give.
People fear being taken for a ride and being cheated, and it does go on, and there are those that are motivated by selfish ambition in the church today. And part of the problem in the past has been that there has not only been a lack of proper giving in the church there has also been a lack of ministry in the earth that would merit this kind of giving. But we need to make sure we are not shut off to God in this, because out of fear we can miss what God is doing and fail to please God in what He requires of us. He has a way of doing things in His church and an order to the way He wants it done, and proper giving is a part of this. If we know that our leader is truly of God and authentic then we need to give freely. If we don’t know, then we need to find out. I feel this is very important. And God requires correct giving and correct honouring of Apostles in this time and the years ahead. We need to be in line with His way of doing things. The leaders of God’s church shouldn’t have to find ways to raise money, or plead with the congregation. God desires us to come to a place where we are able to “give into every good work” and sow as we see need, naturally.
