Rights, Rewards and Blessings

 Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ has its rights, rewards and blessings.  Here's some that Paul wrote about...

"Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?...the plowman plows 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 among you?  If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?  But we did not use this right.  On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ...In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel...But I have not used any of these rights.  And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast...What then is my reward?  Just this:  that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel....I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:5, 9-12, 14, 18, 23 NIV YouVersion).

Those who preach the gospel have the right to bring along a believing wife and to be supported financially, among other types of support.  In preaching the gospel there are also rewards and blessings in which to share.

When we look back in Old Testament times and see that the children of Israel were to give tithes of their produce such as grains, wine, olive oil, and cattle to the Levites, as return for the work they did while serving in the tent of meeting (see Numbers 18:21-32), we will understand more readily the principle Paul wrote about to the Corinthians.  That is, those who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ were entitled to a "material harvest".  It was one of their rights.

The children of Israel were to give their "best parts" of the fruit of their labors.  This is an excellent guideline for those of us who give our 'tithe' for the support of preachers and teachers of God's Word today.  They have a right to it.  

It behooves each believer in Christ to look out for our "Levites" in urban and rural settings.  Often the rural ones struggle the most since many of those congregations experience 'hand-to-mouth' existence as well.  It's good to look into this and see who legitimately needs our support and in what capacity, whether it be monetary or material or otherwise.

The point is, where are our hearts and are we giving willingly and of our best to those "treading out the grain" (see vs 9).  This is our right to cater to their rights.

Besides this, it is good for the preacher-teacher to have his wife along.  You can imagine this out on a variety of levels.  Therefore, we should not criticise him for doing so.  Our support should then be commensurate with "two-mouths" to feed.  Taking this to logical conclusions, if both man and wife are traveling, there will likely be children in tow.  Commensurate rights should correspond accordingly.

For example, I know of a brother who became a full-time itinerate preacher-teacher.  He had six children.  When he traveled with his family, other families actually took them into their home giving them beds to sleep on (or the floor with sleeping bags), food to eat and fellowship.  This was two-way blessing and the hospitality of a family with a big expandable, willing and cheerful heart.

This is part of the right that also feels like a blessing to the recipient.  Having said that, the blessing Paul referred to as sharing in, would likely have been those who had accepted Christ as Savior, and then to see them walking in faith and in committed Christian living.  This may even have extended into these "treasures for heaven" (see Matthew 6:19-21) passing the teaching and preaching baton on, as well.

Due to this, Paul was even willing to forego his right to the Corinthians' support as he offered his preaching of the gospel "free of charge" (see vs 18).

Jehovah Jireh, God our Provider, thank You for all You give us and the care and support that preachers and teachers of Your Word receive.

Open our hearts, minds, and eyes to see and discern what such a preacher or teacher needs.  Help us to then willingly and cheerfully give our best to You our Master as we give and support the harvesters in Your field.  It is essential and crucial for these "Levites".  May they receive their rights and much blessing as they serve You.

In Jesus' name we give.

                                                  ~ERC  December 2023~

Based on 1 Corinthians 9:5, 9-12, 14, 18, 23 NIV YouVersion.

Sing, Give of Your Best to the Master, along with The NCrew.