To Receive or Not to Receive

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

TO RECEIVE OR NOT TO RECEIVE

1 Cor 9:12-14

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don'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? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

NIV

Sometimes it seems as though Paul is boasting about not accepting any support for his ministry. He makes sure they know that anyone who preaches the word should be able to make his living from the word.  Pastors are due their wage for the labor they do among the people. Perhaps for Paul, it was simply preaching the gospel message over and over again, the same message about Jesus Christ being the Savior and a person's need to turn from idols and turn to Jesus. Yet, it would also seem that he taught righteousness, a fuller message of how to live in Christ and have Christ live in them. Surely Paul did not have the gospels or all the letters he and others wrote that make up what we have today as the bible. He did have some writings of Moses, and the prophets as well as the psalms to draw from, but his main source was his encounter with Jesus. Today, pastors have to spend hours in preparation for a sermon or to teach a bible study or Sunday school lesson. This labor is not just about one hour on Sunday morning. So then when would they have time to labor for their sustenance outside the church? Although Paul says and will say it again that he does not take advantage of this right to make his living from the gospel, he does say that those who preach have that right. Still, we cannot help but think Paul seems a little full of himself regarding not taking anything from anyone and that he puts up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Why would accepting support hinder the gospel? Would that mean that all paid ministers are hindering the gospel of Christ? Perhaps the main point here is that if a pastor or minister, such as an evangelist or one of those high profile televised preachers are motivated by monetary gain, then they may well be a hindrance to the gospel. That is their reputation for the abundant lifestyle can cause unbelievers to think of Christianity as a big sham. Certainly, if those who preach the gospel, or some form of Christianity do so for their own benefit and use their followers to live far exceedingly above all others, then perhaps this is what Paul is speaking about. Any pastor who shepherds his flock deserves his wages, which is within the guidelines of scripture. But when they take advantage of their right and fleece the flock, so to speak, to gain wealth for themselves, Paul says they hinder the gospel. There has to be a difference between receiving a living from the gospel and using the gospel for monetary gain. However, it is right for ministers to expect to make a living from the gospel if God has called them to minister. It is also right to refuse to make their living from the gospel if that would hinder their message. The choice has to be between a minister and God, and them alone.