1 Corinthians 9:7-12 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 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 from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
Paul reminds the Corinthian church that he brought them the gospel; because of that fact, he should have the right to expect financial support from them. He brought them life in Christ, eternal truth that will deliver them from eternal death. He planted the vineyard of the Lord in Corinth; why should he not partake of the fruit of this truth by receiving support from the Corinthians? Of course, Paul's issue with the believers in Corinth has little to do with him actually desiring to reap a material harvest from them, and has much more to do with their unwillingness to bless him when he has sown spiritual seed in their church. This lack of support for the ministry of the gospel can be endemic to all Christians's lives if we are not fully committed to the Lord. Often we are very self-centered and self-absorbed when it comes to how we spend our money. Unless we truly understand and value what has happened to us spiritually, turning from death to life, we will not appreciate the marvelous work of the ministry. We will not be giving our means to support the propagation of the "Good News." We surely will not have embraced what Paul wrote in his second letter to Corinth: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) We see in Jesus' ministry some women with such hearts supporting Jesus and his disciples. Jesus dramatically impacted their lives. They understood that a powerful new reality had come to their troubled, dead-end lives; therefore, they willingly contributed their time and means to further the ministry of Christ. After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:1-3) Their generosity offers an example of what occurs when believers KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN CHANGED: they joyfully supported the gospel through their lives and by their gifts of money.
The Lord showed distain for those who did not support the work of the gospel. When He sent out the disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit, He gave them these instructions: “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." (Matthew 10:11-15) Jesus sent his disciples to the lost sheep of Israel without any means of supporting themselves. (See Matthew 10:6) He asked them to be completely dependent on the support of the Israelites to take care of their needs. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. (Matthew 10:9-10) The worker is worth his keep is Jesus' message to the disciples and to the Israelites. A person who believes in God will support the one who brings God's message. Of course, the passage from Matthew primarily focuses on the reaction of villages and towns, but individuals had to open up their doors to the disciples and to accept them into their households. Individuals are the ones who are accountable to God to offer hospitality and care in his name. If no one in a village was willing to receive the disciples, judgment would fall on the whole village. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet, for judgment worse than what fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah will fall upon these people. These are harsh words; but praise God, we now live in a time of mercy and grace under the blood of Christ as his chosen ones. But Christ still had serious words for the Israelites, God's chosen people, if they failed to support his ministering followers.
Today, some Christians support God's church meagerly or not at all. They seem to think their efforts and finances are not needed. They would turn the disciples from their doors. Jesus said great love comes from understanding how desperately lost and wicked we were before He redeemed us. Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Luke 7:36-38) Simon, the Pharisee, complained to Jesus about letting this sinful woman touch him. Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. . .Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." (Luke7:40-43 & 47) She loved much for her many sins were forgiven. Some of us have forgotten how much God has done for us. We were once dead as a burnt corpse, no hope of life, just the charcoal remains. How can these charcoal remains come back to life. Our lives had been consumed by the fires of sin, nothing of worth remained, good only for the dumpster. But Jesus, the King of Kings, brought everlasting life to this heap of ashes. The impossible became possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, through the propagation of the Good News. Hear the words of the Lord: the worker is worth his keep. She loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Salvation is not a vaccination against sin, received by saying a few magic words of incantation. Salvation is a complete renewal, a new creation. If you understand you were lost in your sins, you will love much; but if you cannot understand your former sinful state, you will love little. The sins of the woman were forgiven because she knew she was hopelessly lost when Jesus found her. She poured costly perfume over Jesus. What costly perfume do you bring to your Savior's feet? Paul asks the Corinthians, "Do you not know I deserve your support? I have shown you the way to life eternal." Are you blessing those who show you the way?
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