Supporting full-time ministryIt's God who choosesThe Book of Numbers in the Old Testament gets its name from the two censuses that were taken of God's people during their wanderings in the desert. The first one (Numbers 1:1–46) was taken thirteen months after they left Egypt; the second one (Numbers 26:1–65) was taken thirty-eight years later, just before they entered the promised land. The intervening chapters describe the people's journey through the desert and highlight their grumblings and rebellion against God. One such instance is recorded in Numbers 17. There the people challenged Aaron's appointment as high priest. To prove that God had chosen Aaron, Moses was told to take twelve staffs, one for each of the tribes of Israel. On each of the staffs he wrote the name of the leader of the tribe. On Levi's staff he wrote Aaron's name. He then placed the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony where God met with him. God said that the staff belonging to the man he had chosen would sprout. When Moses entered the tent the next day Aaron's staff had not only sprouted, but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds!—visible proof that God had chosen Aaron. It's God who anointsThe Bible says that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), so what lessons can we learn from this event in Israel's history? The point that God is making is that it is he who chooses leaders in his Church. For Aaron's staff to bud, blossom and produce almonds, the power of God had to come upon that staff. Similarly, for a Christian to become a leader in the Church, God's power and anointing will have to come upon that person. Man can appoint leaders, but unless God chooses and anoints them they will never bear fruit: they will just be a dry staff. Full-time for GodNumbers 17:8 tells us that Aaron's staff represented the house of Levi, so it was not just Aaron the people were complaining about, but the whole tribe of Levi. Why was that? At the beginning of Numbers God announced that he had chosen the Levites to serve him in full-time ministry (Numbers 1:47–53; 3:5–10). Every male between the ages of twenty-five and fifty were to devote themselves to the service at the tabernacle (Numbers 8:23–26). Some members of the other tribes resented that calling. Whether their resentment was based on jealousy or the fact they would have to tithe in order to support them, we don't know. It may have been a mixture of both. Is there an equivalent to the Levitical tribe in the New Testament? Yes there is. Even though every Christian is called to serve God with his life and has been assigned at least one function or ministry in the Church, God still chooses certain individuals to serve him in full-time ministry today, just as he did in the Old Testament. They are Christ's gifts to the Church, comprising apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:7–11). Their purpose, as stated in Ephesians 4:12–13, is three-fold:
They do this, primarily, through the ministry of the Word. Importance of the WordIn Acts 6:1–7 we read of a problem that arose in the Church soon after Pentecost: some believers were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. That was a serious problem, but Jesus said that man doesn't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Man needs spiritual food as well as physical food. The apostles said that it wouldn't be right for them to neglect their gift in order to wait on tables, so they delegated that task to others and gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Others would supply these saints with physical food, but they would supply them with spiritual food. What was the result of their decision? The Word of God spread, the number of disciples increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. In other words the Church grew significantly as a result. Do we want to see the Church grow in our day? Then let's follow their example. The Lord has put this into his Word for a reason. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Revelation 2:7). Paul wrote to Timothy: Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. (1 Timothy 4:13–15) Paul told Timothy (a young pastor) not to neglect the gift that God had given him—the ability to preach and teach the Word of God. He was to give himself wholly to that task. By doing that he would refine his gift and make it even more effective. People would see his progress and his ministry would improve. Think how important God's Word is:
The ministry of the Word of God is the single most important ministry in the Church. When God speaks, things happen, but there can be no such ministry without prayer. The apostles said they would give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). The ministry of the Word of God comes through prayer. The preacher or teacher gets his message through prayer and he also gets his anointing through prayer. There are no short cuts. In the seventeenth century Thomas Boston wrote: 'How wilt thou get a word from God if thou do not seek it? And how canst thou seek it but by earnest prayer? If otherwise, thou mayest get something that is the product of thy empty head to mumble over before the people, and spend a little time with them in the church. But O, it is a miserable preaching where the preacher can say, "Thus say I unto you, but no more"; and cannot say, "Thus saith the Lord." ' Have things changed since the seventeenth century? No they haven't. They haven't changed since Pentecost. People don't come to church to hear man speak to them, they want to hear God speak to them. They want to hear a 'thus saith the Lord', but that can only happen through prayer. Prayer and Bible study takes time, which is why the ministry of the Word of God is usually a full-time calling. Paul's tent makingIn the Old Testament God set apart the tribe of Levi to minister to him and to the people. That was a full-time calling. They could do no secular work and were given no land in Canaan to grow crops, so how did they live? In return for the work they did at the tent of meeting God gave them the tithes that were brought to him (Numbers 18:21–24). Tithing is not commanded in the New Testament, so how should full-time ministries be supported today? God gave specific instructions for their support in the Old Testament and he's given specific instructions for their support in the New Testament. In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14) God has commanded that those who minister his Word should receive their living from their ministry. If that is so, then why did Paul work as a tent maker? In Acts 18:1–5 we're told that when Paul first arrived in Corinth he provided for his own needs by tent making. He did that out of necessity because he had no other means of support, but when Silas and Timothy brought him aid from the churches in Macedonia he devoted himself to full-time preaching—the thing that God had called him to do. There were already believers in Corinth when Paul arrived. He later met up with them and stayed with them for eighteen months, preaching the gospel and teaching them the Word of God. But throughout that period of time they wouldn't support him financially (2 Corinthians 11:7–9). The church at Corinth had a problem with giving. That was surprising considering their spiritual credentials. We're told that they weren't lacking in any spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:7), which means that all nine spiritual gifts were operating in their meetings, including the gift of healing and the working of miracles. The people were so eager to manifest those gifts that Paul had to teach them about orderly worship (1 Corinthians 14:26–40), and yet there was sexual immorality among them (1 Corinthians 5:1–13) and they were reluctant to give. What does that teach us? It shows that the Baptism of the Spirit is not everything. Christians need the Spirit of God and the Word of God if they're to live godly lives in Christ Jesus. Paul had to teach them about moral living and giving to those who were in need, and that included giving to himself. The preacher's rightsThis is my defence to those who sit in judgment on me. Don't we have the right to food and drink? Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? (1 Corinthians 9:3–6) As far as we know, Paul wasn't married but he was stating God's will: that those called to full-time ministry should be supported by those they minister to. In fact they have a right, in Christ, to that support. They should receive enough to supply their own needs and the needs of their wives and children. That was true in the Old Testament and it's also true in the New Testament. However the saints at Corinth didn't like that idea, they wanted Paul to finance his own ministry. Inspired by the Spirit he wrote: Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.' Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the ploughman ploughs and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? (1 Corinthians 9:7–11) Paul described himself as a spiritual soldier: one who was fighting on the front line, battling with the powers of darkness to bring the gospel to Corinth. Should he do that at his own expense? Not at all. He wrote to Timothy: No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. (2 Timothy 2:4) The Greek words translated 'civilian affairs' in that verse refer to the business affairs of life: the things that we do to provide for our needs. The Lord didn't want Timothy to get involved in such things, so how would he live? The hard working farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I'm saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (2 Timothy 2:6–7) Both in his letter to the church at Corinth and his letter to Timothy, Paul described those who minister the Word of God as spiritual farmers. They sow spiritual seed into the hearts of the people so they can reap a material harvest. I suppose most of us who minister the Word don't view it that way, but God does. We pass on to the people what we receive from the Lord, and it's a privilege to do so. We don't look for a return, but the Word says that we should. Why? Because it's our livelihood; it's the work that God has given us to do. The Word is freeWhen Jesus sent his apostles out to preach the Word he said: 'Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8b).' In other words: 'It's cost you nothing to receive it, so don't charge for it.' No one should charge anyone to hear the Word of God, it's given freely by God for the good of man. However the vessels God uses to minister his Word should be supported. Jesus told his apostles not to take gold or silver or copper in their belts (Matthew 10:9) which means that they weren't to travel at their own expense. Why was that? '…for the worker is worth his keep (Matthew 10:10b).' Or, as Luke puts it: '…the worker deserves his wages (Luke 10:7a).' Those are the words of Jesus. God views ministering the Word of God as work and those he calls to perform that task should be kept by those they minister to. This can obviously be an issue for Christians because so much is said about it in the New Testament. As we've already seen, the church at Corinth had a problem in this area, particularly in respect to giving to Paul, and Paul had to write to them at length and explain to them about why, in Christ, he deserved their support. Ways to supportDon't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar. (1 Corinthians 9:13) In the Old Testament God gave the Levites portions of the sacrifices that were brought to him (Leviticus 10:12–15). That principle is carried over into the New Testament. Most churches take up an offering to the Lord during their meetings. According to God's Word, those who are in full-time ministry should be the first to benefit from those offerings (2 Timothy 2:6–7). Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Galatians 6:6) Many of us are blessed by ministries in the Church worldwide, not just by those from our own fellowship. If we benefit from such ministries we have a duty, in Christ, to support them financially. A visiting preacher comes to our church and an offering is taken for his needs. Someone might say: 'I don't have to give to brother so-and-so: he lives by faith, God will look after him.' Yes he will, through you! These preachers live in the same world that we do. They have the same bills to pay that we do. God doesn't put manna on the table for them in the morning. He could do, but he chooses not to; things have changed since the Old Testament. Would you go to work and ask not to be paid? You might do, but not very often. How would you live? In the same way, if we've been blessed by someone's spiritual ministry, then God expects us to bless them materially. If Jesus preached in our church would we send him away empty handed? I don't have to ask that question. Well these are Christ's gifts to the Church (Ephesians 4:7–13); they are ministering on Christ's behalf. When we give to them we're giving to the Lord. The Lord has ministered to us through them and we, in thanksgiving, give back to the Lord through them. Conditional promisesNot that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:17–19) Paul was not in need when he wrote those words, he'd already been supplied by the saints he was writing to. Not only were they supporting their own pastor, they were also supporting his ministry as well. He said: 'I'm not in need, but anything you give me will be credited to your account.' That means that everything we give to full-time ministries is credited to our account in heaven. Paul said that their gifts were a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice that was pleasing to God. Do we want to please God? Then we should give to such ministries. 'And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (v19).' Christians often take that verse out of context. They claim it as a general promise, ignoring the verses that precede it. God is very gracious and will meet all of our needs if we ask him, but that promise was given to those who'd supported full-time ministries. No one can take out of an account what they haven't put in. We're in need and we pray to God to meet that need. God says: 'Let me look at his account. Oh yes, he's given to so-and-so, and so-and-so, and so-and so, and so-and-so. Yes fine, no problem.' The New Testament is a New Covenant; it's an agreement that God has made with man. And like any other agreement or contract it contains conditional clauses. If we do what God says, he will certainly do what he says. But if we don't do what he says, then he's not obliged to do what he says, because we've broken the covenant—we've broken the agreement he's made with us. That's not only true of salvation—believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Acts 16:29–31), which is a conditional statement; and he who stands firm to the end will be saved (Mark 13:12–13), which is again conditional—it's also true of other promises as well. So, if we want to be sure of God's promises coming to pass in our lives, we must obey his Word. Meet the conditions, and God will fulfil his promises (Genesis 18:19). Michael Graham Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. NIV ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.homepage | top | previous | next | study menu |
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