Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 9:13–14
God allowed Paul to use some great examples so far of those who are able to be taken care of through their crops and flocks and that those who cast spiritual seeds should be taken care of by those who are invested in spiritually. God then led Paul to write this in 1 Corinthians 9:13–14, “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” God had Paul come back to the fact that those who served in the temple were able to eat the meat from the sacrifices that were brought to the temple. But then, God had Paul remind the Corinthian Christians that the Lord commanded those who preach the Good News of the Gospel to get their support from those who benefit from what they share with them. Our Lord Jesus Christ never quoted those words exactly but He did refer to this. We find this in Matthew 10:10: “the worker is worthy of his support.” We also read this in Luke 10:8: “Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you.” Our Lord made it clear that His apostles and equippers who spread His Word were to be cared for by the people they invested in. God calls some to serve Him full-time as equippers (Ephesians 4:11–12) and the church must provide for them.
Challenge & Application
What’s the lesson God wanted the Corinthian Christians to learn?
As Christians, how can we grow in this area of helping provide for all equippers?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!