Share the Harvest
Who 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 of the milk of the flock? 1 Corinthians 9:7
We have a garden. It’s just a small one, but I enjoy having the fresh vegetables when they are ready to be harvested. I don’t feel guilty about eating from the garden and I don’t feel shame because I enjoy my fresh veggies. You would think it strange and even ridiculous if I did have these feelings about eating from my own garden. I don’t begrudge anyone who plants a garden to eat of their own produce. Even if they have planted different crops than I have, I relate and like to hear and learn about the secrets of gardening. When the full harvest comes in, there is way too much for one household to consume, so we love sharing with extended family and friends. Others that we know appreciate it when fresh veggies come their way and they get to share in the blessing of our abundance.
In 1 Corinthians 9, the apostle Paul was a bit irritated. It seemed that he had been accused of taking gifts or offerings. I believe he was well within his rights to do so. Most churches support many missions and especially when a missionary personally comes to minister to the congregation. Why would they be upset with Paul, the founder of their church, for accepting support for his labor. As you read further on, Paul admitted that he hadn’t taken any funds and in fact said he would rather die than to have lost the ability to boast about preaching without charging for his time and words.
Paul continued in this chapter to say that he willingly preached and built the church. He recognized that he had an eternal reward coming and was happy to preach without charging, so he did not abuse his authority as an apostle.
How does this translate into today’s world? It is our part to care for and bless our ministers, pastors and teachers that preach the gospel in our church and those that we grow spiritually from. It makes my heart so sad to see a minister struggling to make ends meet. Many people think it is wrong for preachers to have money. The truth is, they should be continually blessed by their congregations because they are gifts from God to His people. Our hearts desires should be to make sure our pastors are overflowing with as much goodness as we can give them.
Today my encouragement to you is to first of all set aside some time to just pray for your pastor and church staff. Thank God for their life of ministry and serving. Send a card or message out to tell them how much you appreciate them and how thankful you are that they are God’s great gift to you. Lastly, send a special offering or gift their way to bless them for giving their life to full time ministry. You may have to save or set aside funds for a couple of weeks or so, but God’s ministers are worth any sacrifice you have to make.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18
1 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.
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 Who ever 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 of the milk of the 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.
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? 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 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 Daily Dose 