The subject of money in the church is always a sensitive one. Paul is challenging us in becoming a generous giver. He knows the blessings that come to those who have learned the principle of being generous. Many hesitate in giving because there is nothing left after we pay all the bills but Paul wants us to look at it differently. Becoming a generous giver is something that takes discipline and intention.
1 Corinthians 9:1,10-14
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Full of Excuses
A debate was raging over the church’s responsibility in paying Paul or others for their work. Apparently, Paul was meeting resistance. What is ironic and hypocritical is the fact that the Corinthians were wealthy. They had all the resources to support the pastor and the church, but they were complaining about it. They hadn’t even given the offering they had promised to send to the poor in Israel. Poor places like Macedonia were freely giving while supporting the work of Paul. What was the resistance in the Corinthians? Why didn’t they want to give? It was pure selfishness shrouded in excuses. Paul is making a defense that he and others had the right to make a living from the Gospel. He uses the analogy of muzzling an ox. You don’t keep food from the animal who is doing the heavy work. Pretty soon that ox will stop working or just collapse.
An Act of Worship
The church still struggles with giving their money to support the work of the ministry. There are all kinds of excuses like “all the church wants is their money.” There are hard working pastors that struggle to support their families because the church is so cheap. We don’t give at church with the purpose of helping the pastor. We give because it is an act of worship and obedience to God. It is a step of faith also because we have to trust God with our money. The church then uses that faithfulness to support the work of the ministry, which includes the pastor. We are to be generous givers. Remember the generous giver reaps bountiful blessings.