Giving - New Testament Part 2

[00:00:00] Now, shall we read together in the word of God in the first letter to the church at Corinth? [00:00:11] First corinthian letter, chapter nine. [00:00:19] And from verse seven, I'm going to read in phillips. [00:00:31] Just think for a moment. Does any soldier ever go to war at his own expense? [00:00:38] Does any man plant a vineyard and have no share in its fruits? Does the shepherd who tends the flock never taste the milk? [00:00:47] This is, I know, an argument from everyday life, but it is a principle endorsed by the law. [00:00:55] For is it not written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. [00:01:04] Now, does this imply merely gods care for oxen, or does it include his care for us too? Surely we are included. You might even say that the words were written for us. For both the ploughman as he ploughs and the thresher as he threshes should have some hope of an ultimate share in the harvest. If we have sown for you the seed of spiritual things, need you be greatly perturbed because we reap some of your material things? [00:01:35] And if there are others with the right to have these things from you, have we not an even greater right? Yet we have never exercised this right and have put up with all sorts of things so that we might not hinder the spread of the gospel. [00:01:53] Are you ignorant of the fact that those who minister sacred things take part of the sacred food of the temple for their own use, and those who attend the altar have their share of what is placed on the altar? On the same principle, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should receive their livelihood from those who accept the gospel. [00:02:16] But I have never used any of these privileges, nor am I writing now to suggest that I should be given them. Indeed, I would rather die than have anyone make this boast of mine an empty one. For I take no especial pride in the fact that I preach the gospel. I feel compelled to do so. I should be utterly miserable if I failed to preach it. [00:02:41] If I do this work because I choose to do so, then I am entitled to a reward. [00:02:48] But if it is no choice of mine but a sacred responsibility put upon me, what can I expect in the way of reward this. [00:02:58] That when I preach the gospel, I can make it absolutely free, free of charge, and need not claim what is my rightful due as a preacher. For though I am no man's slave, yet I have made myself everyone's slave, that I might win more men to Christ, to the Jews I was a jew, that I might win the Jews to those who were under the law. I put myself in the position of being under the law, though in fact I stand free of it, that I might win those who are under the law to those who had no law. I myself became like a man without the law, even though in fact I cannot be a lawless man, for I am bound by the law of Christ. So that I might win the men who have no law. To the weak, I became a weak man, that I might win the weak. I have, in short, been all things to all sorts of men, that by every possible means I might win some to God. I do all this for the sake of the gospel. I want to play my part in it properly. [00:04:11] Well, now this evening we come to another study on this subject of the ministry of giving. And the Thursday week before Easter, we spoke about the teaching on giving in the New Testament. First, you remember the Christian, and all he possesses belongs completely to Christ. [00:04:36] He's not the owner, but is the steward, and must give an account to Christ of his stewardship. And the second point we made was that the Christian must not be vague and haphazard in his giving, but regular and consistent. And the third point we made was that the amount a Christian gives is a matter between him and God alone. Although we know that there's very much in this word of God about tithing and so on, it does not say in the New Testament that we ought or must tithe, although we may well say should we give less than what the children of God had to give under the old covenant. [00:05:23] And then fourthly, we made the point that it is the attitude of the heart which concerns God far more than the amount we give. [00:05:40] Now I want to dwell. We did very, very briefly, briefly and sketchily touch on another two matters. I want just to underline these two more fully and then pass on to the question of the support of the Lord's servants and these other matters about collections, appeals, and so forth. [00:06:04] Now, the fifth point I want just to underline is this. The issue and consequence of real giving is always blessing. [00:06:18] The issue and consequence of real giving is always blessing. [00:06:29] If anything, the New Testament, more even than the Old Testament, declares that when we give sacrificially, the issue is always blessed. [00:06:45] I suppose its all summed up in that wonderful little verse in Luke and chapter six, the 6th chapter of Luke and verse 38, Luke 638. Give, and it shall be given unto you good measure, press down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom, for with what measure ye shall meet it shall be measured unto you again. O the categorical, dogmatic way in which this is, simply put, give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, running over into your bosom. I always get the picture of something so absolutely overflowing that someone pushes it onto you so that you sort of catch it to try and stop the stuff from spilling out. [00:07:47] For with what measure ye meet, it shall be measured unto you again. So, in other words, ought we get back at least what we give now? This is a good way to measure our lives. If we are in continual want and feel utterly miserable because we feel we're under stress and strain, it's a sure indication something's wrong with our giving. This is true in every way, spiritually, materially, financially, in every single way. Because God's word is truth. [00:08:24] And God says quite categorically that if we give, we get back what we have given, only more, press down, shake them together and running over. [00:08:38] So theres a surplus. [00:08:41] We shall see that a little more in a moment. If you turn to two Corinthians chapter nine, which is a chapter which is so foundational in the New Testament to this matter of giving, two Corinthians eight and nine, but just nine and verse six. But this I say, he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly. At least if you've sown something, you will get back what you've sown. If you've sown sparingly, you will reap sparingly. If you've sown bountifully, he shall also reap bountifully. [00:09:18] So we know that when the hearts attitude is right and the giving is an expression of our worship, then there is not only blessing for ourselves, but for others as well. Now keep your bible open. It is two corinthians chapter nine. [00:09:43] Just have a look at what it tells us. It's absolutely, absolutely marvelous. Really. Just for example, just this one passage from verse six to the verse 15. [00:09:59] See what happens when you give. It begins off he that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly. And he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. So the first thing is we are blessed and enriched when we give. That's the issue. It's always blessed. We are blessed and enriched. We get a return. Look at verse ten. He that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Verse eleven, ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us. Thanksgiving to God. Now, will you underline the word ye being enriched in everything? Not you being enriched in your soul or you being enriched in your spirit, but you being enriched in everything unto all liberality? [00:11:09] I think that's the most marvelous word. [00:11:12] It says simply this, that when we give, the issue is enrichment, and it's enrichment in everything. [00:11:23] So we are enriched in everything. That's a wonderful thing. To become enriched, you become deeper, broader, fuller. [00:11:32] There's more ability, more power. [00:11:35] So when you give, you are blessed and enriched. Thats the first thing about this matter. The issue and consequence of giving, real giving, is always blessing. [00:11:52] You yourself are blessed and enriched unto all liberality in everything. [00:12:01] In other words, you can be even more sort of generous. You can be even more liberal. You can be even more single hearted in your giving, because as you give, you get enriched. [00:12:17] Now, blessing and enrichment are two things. Blessings may be many things, but enrichment is something to do with character. [00:12:26] Just underline that. The second thing, we prove the Lord practically and experimentally. Now, if you're not proving the Lord practically and experimentally, maybe there's something wrong with your giving not only money, but in every other way. You see verse eight. God is able to make all grace abound unto you, that ye, having always all sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work. Now, doesn't that speak of proving the law practically and experimentally? Here's someone who's given something. They've given it sacrificially. Now, logically, they ought to have a hard time. But no, suddenly the grace of God comes into that life and into those circumstances. And for the first time, they prove the Lord in a new, deeper way. [00:13:17] They are proving the Lord. They are experiencing the Lord. For the word of God is truth. [00:13:23] All grace, my God is able to make all grace abound unto you, that ye, having always all sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work. Now, what does it mean to have all sufficiency? It means, to use an illustration, that if your shopping comes to, what shall we say, 100 new pennants and you had only 85, you haven't got all sufficiency. [00:13:58] But if you have 110 new pens, you've got sufficiency. [00:14:05] There's no strain. [00:14:07] Now, logically, if we give, we might argue that we will not have enough, whether it's time or being or possessions or money, whatever it is. But God says no. When you give, you prove me in a. You'll prove me in a practical and experimental way, you will have sufficient. [00:14:32] Oh, the stories I've heard of people who have suddenly found that when they've given, God makes what's left over go far, far more than the whole. [00:14:47] And he does. [00:14:49] You have all sufficiency. Now, we're not talking about being stupid like some people. They're not stewards. They just get into their head that they should give everything and anything without any regard to the Lordship of Christ. If you do that, as we shall find out in a moment, you will suffer, because it's not the lordship of Jesus Christ. [00:15:12] He is the Lord, you are the steward. You do what he tells you. [00:15:18] The third thing is, we become fruitful. Now, many people say to me, I don't feel I'm fruitful. But the word here says that the issue and consequence of real giving is fruitfulness. [00:15:30] Because, you see, it says in verse ten, he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, seed and the end of it, bread shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing that's fruit, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. [00:15:50] Now, this is exactly what the apostle Paul said to the church at Philippi. He said, look here, you've sent me not once but twice, a gift to meet my need to support me. I didn't ask for it. But you did it off your own bat. He says, I'm not bothered about the gift. It met my need, but I'm not so bothered. I seek the fruit that increaseth. Now, isn't that a wonderful phrase? I seek the fruit that increaseth. Not just fruit, but fruit that increaseth. You see, because you're learning, you Philippians, that dear church, there they were learning that by giving they had an increasing fruitfulness. [00:16:27] In other words, you see, it's a question of faith. Again, it's only when you've started giving that you can experience the fruitfulness. You have to let go in faith. Cast your bread upon the water. After many days, you'll find it. [00:16:40] First you let go, then it comes back. And apostle Paul's delighted with him. He says, you're not hanging on to it, sitting on it, you're letting it go. So your fruitfulness is increasing. You're experiencing that. Now. The fourth thing is in verse 14. Now, it goes out from beyond what it does to us. It draws us all together in fellowship, verse 14, while they themselves also with supplication on your behalf, long after you, by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. Now, do you not all have, do you not all know in some small way what it is to, for us as a company, for instance, to receive, to give from some other company or from some person. And suddenly we've all drawn together. We just can't help it. We feel, isn't it wonderful to be in the family of God and to find people who don't know much about us suddenly feel burdened and concerned. [00:17:38] Likewise, think what it's like on the ship, the om ship. There they are. They've got many, many battles, many, many problems, and suddenly a gift comes and they think, oh, how wonderful it is to be in the body of Christ. We're drawn together in fellowship. Geographical distance somehow seems smaller. [00:17:59] That's exactly what it does when we give. It draws us together in fellowship, and then we enter more fully into the character and nature of God. Verse 15. The apostle Paul puts it, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. In other words, he says, look, you're beginning to understand something about what God is like, because you're giving. You're coming to appreciate what God is like. Thanks be unto him for his unspeakable gift. And then you will notice, too, that 60 it produces much more worship and thanksgiving from verse eleven to 13, which worketh through us. Thanksgiving to God. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God, seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all. So there we see that the issue and the consequence of real giving is always blessing. Blessing in us, blessing in others. [00:19:25] The last point I want to make about giving in the New Testament is we must be practical in our recognition of what needs our support financially as well as spiritually. Spiritually, a spiritual man or woman is always one who recognizes fully their practical responsibilities. [00:19:50] Such spirituality leads always to a shouldering of the burden of the work of God. [00:20:00] There is no such thing as spirituality, which is filled with theories and teaching and seeming devotion, which is irresponsible. I've heard people tell me that so and so is so spiritual, but doesn't look after their children. It's rot. It's absolute rot. [00:20:23] I've heard other people say, so and so is a very spiritual person, but always in a haze. [00:20:32] I don't call that spirituality. [00:20:35] Some people temperamentally live in a fog, whether they were christian or not. Some people walk with their heads in the clouds, whether they were christians or not. It's not spirituality, but real spirituality is this, that even if temperamentally you tend to walk with your head in the clouds. You have to come down to practicalities. The spirit of God won't let us get away from this kind of thing. We've got to face it. Spirituality is practicality. [00:21:07] I've often heard anyone who sort of speaks of spiritual things as essential, as basic to life as being a mystic. And I know exactly what generally most people understand or mean by that comment. They mean that it's impractical. [00:21:29] Anything mystical is marvelous, but it's impractical. [00:21:34] I remember one brother saying to me some years ago, we need more mystics in the church like you. [00:21:42] I knew exactly what he meant. He meant people who could burble on about sort of wonderful visions or an understanding of spiritual things. But of course we don't take any notice of it. I mean, it doesn't have any effect when it comes down to practicalities. [00:22:00] The kind of thing is, I remember once I attribute to money not having a collection that's mystical because you just don't get the money unless you have a collection and so on and so forth. Well, I just want to underline this simple that the kind of spirituality that can be full of teaching and full of knowledge, biblical knowledge, and yet irresponsible, is not spirituality. [00:22:39] Because true spirituality leads always to a shouldering of the practical burden of the work of God. Now this isn't just giving financially, it goes into everything. All kinds of things have got to be done. Spirituality leads us to see that those things have got to be done and we're going to shoulder it. [00:23:03] I wish I could stop and talk about this matter a good deal more, but let me just read two scriptures that put the whole thing acidly into a nutshell. One, John, chapter three and verse 17 and 18. [00:23:20] Whoso hath the world's goods and beholdeth his brother in need and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? [00:23:30] Anyone tells us that the brother's spiritual and a mystic and sort of full of visions. [00:23:38] John says it's rotating. The love of God cant abide in a person and then not do something. [00:23:47] Verse 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue, but in deed and truth. Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth and assure our heart before him. [00:24:04] Now also James. [00:24:06] James, chapter two, verse 14. [00:24:10] What does it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works. Can that faith save him? That kind of faith? [00:24:21] Now here's a point. Can that faith, he means that kind of faith in inverted commerce, save him? If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food and one of you sounds them, go in peace, be ye warned, and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body. What doth it profit? [00:24:43] Even so, faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. [00:24:49] Now, James agrees with John in simply saying spirituality is practical. [00:24:59] Real faith is in touch with life. [00:25:04] It's quite as simple as that. Therefore, we all need to recognize the simple law that we should contribute towards the cost of God's work. It's as blatant and bold as that. [00:25:19] We must never be numbered amongst those who receive all and give nought. [00:25:26] You see what it says in the word Romans, chapter 15. Let's just see. You see, we tend to overlook a lot of these little points and the letters and gospels which are so intensely practical. Romans 15, verse 26 and 27. For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem. Yea, it hath been their good pleasure and their debtors they are. [00:25:59] For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister unto them in carnal things. Now, carnal things means cash in this connection just means simply cash, hard cash. [00:26:19] So the apostle Paul is bringing it all down to a very humdrum and very practical point. He says, look here, all these dear gentiles in Achaeron and Macedonia, they've come to the Lord because the gospel first came to these jewish believers. They sent out the apostles. Now they're in need. Well, it's not just a question. They owe it to them. If they have come into their spiritual blessing and salvation of God through these dear jewish believers who sacrificed to send missionaries to them, then they owe it to them to send them some cash in their need. [00:26:59] Putting it very boldly, three john, third letter of John. [00:27:07] Putting it rather more sweetly, this is John three John, verse five to eight. Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal, that is, those who are your blood, your brothers in Christ, but are not of your company, who bear witness to thy love before the church, whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God. Now, you see, you have to understand a little bit about jewish things. You don't always mention money in jewish circles. You dress it up. And this is exactly what is meant here, set forward on your journey worthily of God. [00:27:55] It means seeing that they've got a good hamper with food in and the money to get them on the way. [00:28:04] And then it says, because that for the sake of the name, they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles. Now, this is the other side. These dear brethren went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles. We, therefore, that is, the jewish believers, ought to welcome such that we may be fellow workers for the truth. Now, the whole idea behind this is share your practical, material things with these dear ones. [00:28:31] They've gone forth taking nothing from the gentiles. So you do your part and see that it's worthy of God, says John. Now look at another scripture. One Corinthians, chapter nine. [00:28:47] One Corinthians, chapter nine, verse eleven. [00:28:52] If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? Says the apostle. In other words, if you've got something from us, from God, through us, is it such a big thing? Is it a thing to get sort of worked up over, that we should get a little bit of your cash in return, then? Galatians, chapter six, verse six. [00:29:21] Let him that is taught in the word, communicate with. With him that teacheth in all good things. [00:29:30] Communicate. The word is koinonia, fellowship. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Then. [00:29:45] Two Corinthians, chapter eight. [00:29:48] Two Corinthians, chapter eight, verse 14. [00:29:58] Your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality then. Philippians four. [00:30:16] Philippians four, verse 15 and 16. [00:30:22] And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving. Now there's a harp choir from the apostle Paul. We would never have known about it, but for this gift from the church at Fishermen Philippi, not a single church was practical enough to support the great apostle Paul. Now, I have no doubt that if the apostle Paul was known to us today, half of us would say, oh, we must help him. I mean, a man with a ministry like that, good gracious me, caught up into the third heaven, heard things. It's not even lawful to utter all the things we've received from him. We must help him. We must help him. But you see, I'm afraid. It's amazing in those days, as now, people don't help. [00:31:12] And the apostle Paul had to say, no one helped at all, only you. And then he says, for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need. [00:31:27] He hadn't told them about his need, but they had it on their heart by the spirit. And he says, now this speaks of fruit that increaseth in you, that you've got such a vision that you were in touch with the spirit about need in me in this work. And you sent not once but twice, because he could have said, well, you sent once because I just left you and you were rather moved. But the fact that they sent twice, especially in those days of lack of communications, meant that they were intelligently, spiritually intelligently praying for the apostle Paul and for the work which God had given him to do. [00:32:03] One other .2 Thessalonians three. [00:32:07] Two thessalonians three, verse ten. [00:32:18] This going back to this point, that we ought not to receive all and give. Now, this is what the apostle Paul says, even when we were with you, this we commanded you, if any will not work, neither let him eat. [00:32:33] My word, if we put that into operation, there'd be some trouble, wouldn't it? [00:32:37] In other words, if someone will not help practically in the work, then don't let them eat. [00:32:47] That's rather a command, isn't it? Now, what does it all mean, this matter of we should be practical in our recognition or what needs our support financially? Well, you remember, this is the point I did touch on last time. There are four things I think we can generally say that we need to think about in our practical support. First, we should support the work of God generally. That is, worldwide. [00:33:16] We can't obviously support everything, but as God leads us, we should support the work of God in general. Two, we should support the work of the local church. [00:33:29] Three, we should support those who are given wholly to the Lord's work. [00:33:35] Four, we should care for the needy amongst us. [00:33:42] Now, we ought just to say here that we must never make giving to the Lord an excuse for not caring for our own kith and kin. [00:33:59] Ive seen this too. [00:34:01] People say that theyre giving to the Lord and its at the expense of their own family, their own children, or their own needy relatives. Next of kinship. Now, what does the word of God say? I'm going to read these because they are not very familiar. Verses one Timothy, chapter five, verse eight. If any provideth not for his own and especially his own household, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. [00:34:34] What strong words. [00:34:36] Now, it says, for his own, that means his own relatives, and especially for his own household. That's his next of kin, those that are his actual close family. Then look at verse four. If any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family and to requite their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. No shoving of our old folks into some home, but care for them, that's spirituality. And then, if you will, just also look at verse 16. If any woman that believeth hath widows, that is, that are relatives, let her relieve them. And let not the church be burdened. Don't sponge on the church that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. [00:35:30] Now that's all very practical. [00:35:32] When you turn to two corinthians, chapter eight, verse 13. There is a very, very interesting little almost aside in this whole paragraph on giving. [00:35:53] Chapter eight, verse 13. [00:35:58] For I say not this, that others may be eased and you distressed. [00:36:06] Now that's a very interesting little aside. He says, I'm not talking about this giving so that you give in such a way that you are all in distress. What's the point? [00:36:16] Now, that's a little point always to remember. And Galatians, chapter six, verse five. This may not, in fact, is not actually connected with giving in one way, although the next verse is to do with it. It says, for each man shall bear his own burden. [00:36:37] That is, everyone must do their part for their own family, for their own kith and kin. Each man must bear his own burden. [00:36:46] When he cannot go beyond that, then the church. Well, now, there you are. That's that matter of giving in the New Testament. Now let's go on to this matter of the support of the Lord's servants. [00:36:58] This is a big matter, and as one that we've always balked at dealing with, I suppose because we're a little afraid we could be accused of because of one's own position. But let's just see what the word of God actually says. I think we've got some surprises in store, all of us. First of all, the word of God commands us to support those who are engaged completely in the work of God and have no normal means of income. Now let's just have a look at a few scriptures. Matthew, chapter ten, verse ten. [00:37:43] The Lord speaking. Now, this is what he says. Don't take any wallet for your journey. Neither two coats, nor shoes nor staff, for the labourer is worthy of his food. [00:37:53] Now, that's a most extraordinary statement. What the Lord was saying is, when you find a home that welcomes you, don't be embarrassed that you can't pay for the food that's set before you. The laborer is worthy. They are going to be rewarded by me. [00:38:07] So if they give you a meal and care for you gratis, I pay them. You understand? Now, you've got the same thing in Luke, chapter ten. [00:38:21] Luke ten. [00:38:22] And I think it's verse seven. [00:38:26] He says verse six. He speaks about verse five and six, about coming into a house and saying, peace be on it, and if they will have you. All right, then he says verse seven. And in that same house remain eating and drinking such things as they give, for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Now, this has a little humour in it because it is such as they give. In other words, no sponging, no pushing of the meal away and saying, I can't eat that. [00:38:55] I don't eat such and such and so on, so that they have to go and think, no, you eat what they put before you and if you don't like it, have a fast instead. But, you know. But this is a thing. I've heard of some stories of so called servants of the Lord who've gone into people's homes and they won't eat this and they won't have that and they won't have this done and that done and the other done. It's incredible. [00:39:21] We know that speakers and preachers are sometimes somewhat eccentric. [00:39:27] This is, I think, a well known fact. But, I mean, I've heard some of the things that folks have been put to. To do. It's wrong, it's unscriptural. Now, of course, we who receive such are not to put them right. [00:39:42] They ought to see that. But let's just get this clear. It says that in verse seven he is to remain eating and drinking. Not to eat and drink in an embarrassed way, but eat and drink, knowing that the Lord's going to repay that family because his peace will be upon that home. And that means prosperity. [00:40:03] I remember Auntie Dagmar always used to say to me, I'm always very careful with the servants of the Lord because it means prosperity. Well, it did for her, my word, how her shares prospered. [00:40:14] But she gave a lot. She gave a lot. But she always said that I'm always careful with the servants of the Lord because their peace comes upon the house. So there we are. Now, let's look at a few other scriptures we've read. One, corinthians 9614, that was the passage we read earlier, Galatians six, six. Let him that is taught in the word communicate with him that teacheth in all good things. Three John five eight. That was the passage we've also read a few moments ago about setting them forward on their journey worthily of God. [00:40:56] So we're commanded really to help in this work. Now, what about one Timothy, chapter five, and verse 17 and 18? [00:41:09] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double armor. Now, I don't know whether most people realize what this means. Phillips, translating what is ascemitism in Greek has put worthy of double wages. [00:41:26] And that's exactly what it means. Let elders that rule be counted worthy of double wages, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching. For the scripture says, thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the the corn. [00:41:43] The old thing was, you mustn't put a muzzle on the ox as it treads out the corn. It can eat as much as it wants to. Now, the apostle Paul quotes this again and again. It was one of his favorite Old Testament verses in connection with servants of the Lord. He said, you know, we're like oxen and we're just treading out the corn. It's our job. But you mustn't stop us from eating if we want to eat as we go round, you just let us. Because the scripture says, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the cork. Now compare this with one Thessalonians, chapter five, verse twelve and 13. We beseech you, brethren, to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their works, for their works sake. Now, what does it mean, know them that labor? Of course you should know them. How can you do anything else but know them? [00:42:50] But it means more than that. Of course. This is what I'm saying. It's so discreet, the word of God, in the way it puts over these things. Just, you see that you have some intimate involvement with those that are responsible for you and labor amongst you. [00:43:10] Now, in the Old Testament, the tithes were given for the support of full time workers, priests and Levites. You remember that when we took it in our study of giving in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the emphasis is not on support supporting full time workers from a sense of duty, but because it is a matter of fellowship in the work of God. Now, the apostle Paul put it beautifully in Philippians four and verse 15 when he said no church had fellowship with me in the ministry. The matter of giving and receiving. Now, he called it fellowship. [00:44:02] Fellowship. You see? In other words, the New Testament emphasis is not that your duty bound, although commanded to support full time workers. It's from a sense of fellowship. Not all of us can be full time workers. [00:44:18] In fact, not all of us are called, all qualified by the spirit of God to be such. But we're all in the same thing. That's the point. So some have a more unglamorous job of just getting on with things normally, but they can, if they will, be involved in this matter of the work of God, in the spread of it, the furtherance of the gospel, and so on and so forth. The new Testament declares in simple language that the Lord's servants. Now, I want to get this very, very clear. [00:44:58] The New Testament, in quite simple language, declares that the Lord's servants have a right to take decent wages. [00:45:10] Now, we must get this quite clear. [00:45:13] If those servants of the Lord so desire. [00:45:20] Now, there's a false idea that if you're a servant of the Lord, you shouldn't take wages. It's quite wrong. The word of God teaches quite the opposite. It says, if you're a servant of the Lord, you've got an absolute right before God and heaven to take decent wages. Not terrific wages, that. Decent living wages. A living wage. [00:45:45] There is absolutely no command in the whole of the Bible to live by faith. [00:45:53] Now, isn't that interesting? Not a single command to live by faith as a servant of the Lord. [00:46:03] Now let's again just have a look at this. We read in one corinthians, chapter nine earlier, just one or two things that we ought to take out of that he says in verse seven, what soldier ever serveth at his own charges? Who plants a vineyard and eats not the fruit thereof? Who feeds a flock and eats not the drinks, not the milk of the flock? Do I speak these things out of the manner of men, or saith not the law also the same? It's written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth? Or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake. It was written because he that plougheth ought to plough in hope, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hope are partaking. If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? [00:46:55] If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more he calls it a right. Nevertheless, we did not use this rite, but we bear all things that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. [00:47:12] Then he goes on. Verse 14. Even so did the law ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live up the gospel. Now, verse 18. What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use. [00:47:32] So as not to use to the full my right in the gospel. Now, this is quite clear that the sons of the Lord have a right to take wages if they so desire. [00:47:47] Let's look at another scripture. Two Corinthians, eleven. [00:47:51] Two Corinthians, eleven eight. [00:47:55] I robbed other churches, taking wages of them. The apostle Paul sometimes took wages. I robbed other judges, taking wages of them, that I might minister unto you. So he did sometimes take wages. He said, well, have so and so. I remember in one company I once went, the pastor came up to me and put a whole lot of money on the table and said, please, brother, will you take what you wish? The most embarrassing moment in my life as a servant of the Lord. I refused the lot and took it back. Oh, but he said, you must. Oh, no, no, no. I said. So then he gave me something, and then he said to me, are you satisfied? So I said, good gracious. I said, do you ask everyone such a question? So he said, yes. I said, does anyone ever say that they're not? Yes. [00:48:46] I was quite surprised, I might add. [00:48:51] The fact of the matter is that the servant of the Lord is permitted to take wages. Look at two Thessalonians. [00:49:05] I'm sorry, that's wrong. [00:49:08] One Timothy 517 18. We've read that again. It's let the elders that rule well be accounted of double honour, because the scripture says, the labourer is worthy of his high, his worth, his sword. [00:49:24] Now, although the servants of the Lord have got an absolute right to take decent wages, there is a higher level. [00:49:37] And what is the higher level? The apostle Paul points the way to it. It is that the servant of the Lord should refuse to use his right, not take wages, not become a burden to the church, officially, not become a burden. In other words, that they, each week they. They've got to pay him 15 pounds, twelve pounds, 20 pounds, whatever they did, so that he might get, he may receive a reward. Now, the apostle Paul's argument is so simple. He says this. [00:50:16] I must preach the gospel. There's no question of reward in it. Now, this is a point that needs clearing up. He says, if God has called me to preach the gospel, I must preach. Preach it. I don't get a reward for preaching the gospel. So he says, where can I get a reward by not taking wages? [00:50:34] Now, isn't that interesting? So this immediately brings everything into sharp focus. Many of us have got the idea that if someone preaches the gospel, they're going to get a great reward when they. No, no, no. [00:50:46] If God has called someone to preach the gospel, then woe is them if they don't preach it. That'll have something to answer for. If God has called you to bang a typewriter in an office or sit behind some bank desk. [00:51:00] It's a very humble thing. But woe is you if you're not there. [00:51:05] God didn't expect you to preach the gospel if he's put you there. [00:51:08] Now, we're all the same in this. We don't get a reward for banging a typewriter. We've got wages. [00:51:15] We're working for wages. But it's our attitude, what we're doing there, how we're testifying our faithfulness to the law. That's the thing that matters. Now, the apostle Paul says, if I refuse to take wages, I get a reward because God is no man's debtor. Well, now, that is extremely interesting, and you've got it all again in that one Corinthians nine. From 1515 onwards, he argues just this very thing I've been saying. He says, I will not use my right to the full. [00:51:47] I will not make any charge for the gospel when I preach or teach. Then. [00:51:54] Two Corinthians eleven. [00:51:57] Two Corinthians eleven. [00:52:02] Two Corinthians eleven. [00:52:05] 710. Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted because I preached to you the gospel of for naught? [00:52:14] I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you. And when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man. For the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want. Some other church bought a gift, an unsolicited gift. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you. And so will I keep myself, as the truth of Christ is in me. No man shall stop me of this glory in the regions of Achaea. Isn't that wonderful? That's the apostle Paul's whole attitude toward money. Chapter twelve, verse 13. [00:52:54] For what is there within you were made inferior to the rest of the churches. Except it be that I myself was not a burden to you. Forgive me this wrong. [00:53:03] He means a burden in taking any money from you. [00:53:07] Two Thessalonians, chapter three. And here we have an even more interesting sidelight into the apostle Paul's attitude to this matter. Two Thessalonians 3711 for yourselves, know how ye ought to imitate us, for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. Neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand. Now, so, in other words, he didn't take the Lord's command. In Matthew 1010 and Luke ten seven, he said, no, we'll pay for it. Isn't it marvelous? He actually paid for it working, but in labour and travail, working night and day, that we might not have be a burden. The apostle Paul preached the gospel in the evening, and probably worked on tent making right through the night and the day, in order that in that particular place didn't do it all the time, that in that particular place they took absolutely not a penny from those dear people. Then he goes on, for even when we were with you, not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, if any will not work, neither let him eat. [00:54:26] So it is really quite simple. Paul says that to sow work, not taking money for taking wages for his preaching and teaching, means a far greater reward in the coming kingdom. [00:54:42] Now, we need to note in this connection that the apostle Paul was not afraid to work with his own hands in order to meet his needs and the needs of his co workers. Now, here's another fallacy that we can put a bomb under. That is that if you live by faith, you should never at any time take a job, that you'd never soil your hands with manual labor. [00:55:06] This is absolute rubbish. [00:55:11] The old way was, of course, you couldn't be a rabbi unless you could work with your hands. [00:55:19] Now, what the apostle does is this, that if there is no gift coming from anyone else, he'll work with his own hands rather than burden that church. [00:55:32] And that's what he did. He worked all night, night and day. And he says it in another place. You know how we work night and day with our own hands to meet the necessities, that is, food, bread and clothing and so on. [00:55:51] The principle seems to be not so much living by faith as not making themselves a burden to the church by taking wages, although they had the right to do so. [00:56:04] It's not that the servants of the Lord should muster live by faith. It's rather that they don't want to make a burden. Now, obviously, you can't have some taking wages and some not. [00:56:17] And so, for instance, here we decided together before the Lord that we would take the this level. God had called us to this. We wanted. We wanted a reward. [00:56:29] I want to get to heaven and find that after it all, we. We had nothing. We'd been paid for our job anyway. [00:56:37] We wanted it to be without being a burden in that way. Now, if there were believers or churches who would have fellowship with these servants of the Lord living on this principle so that they could be freed completely, so much the better. [00:56:56] Such would share in the final reward and glory, so that those who sent the gift to the apostle Paul will share in the reward that comes to him. [00:57:07] Well, that's rather wonderful in that way, isn't it, to think of it like that? And that's what he said. I seek the fruit that increaseth. There was something being laid up for you saints for helping me, he says to the church at Philippi. Paul and his coworkers would not, however, expect any such support as a kind of obligation. He nowhere says, look here, you folk over there, you ought to be helping us. [00:57:34] He never says it. [00:57:36] The only time we know that there was something in this, along this line is because he himself takes nothing, and he points out to them that he has a right to take it. [00:57:50] There are, of course, I think, certain characteristics which we ought to be able to discern in any we feel we should support. Now again, here's another little fallacy. When people don't take wages, sometimes some people get all worked up about, oh, dear, I don't feel I should support so and so, yet I feel I've got to. Now, there's none of that at all. None of that at all. You can't support everyone, but God puts on your heart certain ones that you ought to support and in the end, share in the reward and glory. Now, what are the characteristics we should look for? Because I can tell you from my travels and observation and experience that there are a lot of sponges in the work of God. Now, what are the characteristics we should look for in these servants of the Lord? Oh, I can tell you things I remember once in one place are coming up to me. Father and mother had said to me, we're so bothered about our children. They are not following in our steps in the way of the Lord. Oh, I said, I'm so concerned. I thought, have they been too strict? What's wrong? Has there been a lack of communication or fellowship? But I soon found out the lad came along because he wanted to hear English. So he came along to hear and he was quite interested. And then he got talking and then all of a sudden it all burbled out. And he was taking me around to show some scenes in that particular part of Sweden. He said to me, you know, my father couldn't live by faith without you. Oh, I said, why not? Well, he says when mother wants him to have his shoes mended, he won't, because he hopes that people will notice. [00:59:34] Now, in a nutshell, the boy had put his face finger on the problem of his coming to the Lord. [00:59:42] It wasn't true, you see, they were living by faith and they weren't living by faith. [00:59:49] Maybe they'd had a hard time. Don't just criticize God's servants. Sometimes some of us go through times of famine and it's at those times that we're pressed by the enemy to drop hints or sort of put the pressure on a bit. You know, they kind of. Oh, it's a very real thing. Now, what are the characteristics we should look for in Sam's lord? Here they are. Four characteristics we could add to them, of course. But here are the four, I think, that are essential. One, an absolute devotion to the Lord which ought to be manifest. [01:00:24] An absolute devotion to the Lord which should be manifest. A devotion to the Lord and to his work. [01:00:33] Which means that they put the Lord and his work before everything. What's the point of having full time workers if they're not? They're not putting the work of the Lord and above all, the Lord himself before everything else. That's what they call for. They should have. The Levites shall have no other inheritance. I am their portion, says the Lord. So if you can't see in a full time worker absolute devotion to the Lord and his work, what's the point? [01:01:02] Spiritual qualification. I put under that heading too. In other words, I think, be careful, because sometimes people are on a probationary period and we can't always see it immediately. But we ought to be to feel there's some spiritual qualification. [01:01:19] It may only be a practical job that someone's been called of a such person. People as deacons whose whole job is just looking after practical side of the work. But they've got some spiritual qualification. [01:01:30] God has singled them out. God has apprehended them. [01:01:34] Second thing, a readiness for any sacrifice and hardship. [01:01:39] That's the second thing. [01:01:41] Some servants of the Lord seem to think that living by faith means that you have a cushy time. All not so. There are times of famine there are times of plenty. There are pharaoh's lean kind, and there are pharaoh's fat kind periods when you've got seven years of famine, and there are periods when you have seven years of abundance. [01:02:08] I think we should look for in servants of the Lord a readiness to, for any sacrifice and hardship. The apostle Paul said to Timothy, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [01:02:23] I think that's what we should look for. And including the readiness for hard work. [01:02:28] In other words, I think that's one of the characteristics we should look for in terms of the Lord, that they're ready to really give themselves to the work of God. I don't mean just hard manual work, but I mean really to give themselves to the work of God without complaint. [01:02:44] The third thing, freedom from the love of money. [01:02:51] Now, of course, servants of the Lord are quite as human as you, and the love of money is not an uncommon characteristic. [01:03:00] But the word of God says that they should be free from the love of money. It says, for instance, in one Peter, chapter five, one Peter 5210, the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God. Nor yet for filthy lucre. [01:03:27] Nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. [01:03:31] In other words, don't all the time think of what you're going to get in terms of cash, but do it from a heart that is willing. [01:03:42] One Timothy three speaks. One Timothy three speaks of the bishop and says in verse three that he should be no lover of money. [01:03:55] Verse eight. Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double tongued, nor given to much wine. Not greedy of filthy lucre. [01:04:03] Titus, chapter one, verse seven, says the same thing again. [01:04:08] The bishop must be blameless as God's steward. Not self willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre. So we want to see this characteristic in servants of the Lord. They're not covetous and that they are not. They've not got a consuming passion for money. [01:04:32] Fourthly, I think a characteristic we should look for in servants of the Lord that we would support is a freedom from indolence. [01:04:44] Freedom from indolence, laziness and sponging. [01:04:51] I fear sometimes that some people seem to think that the life of faith is a lovely life. [01:04:57] Lazy? [01:04:58] You just laze around and do nothing. Well, if it is, I don't think we should support anyone in that way at all. We only support the people because there's work to be done, and there is no other way of getting that work done. [01:05:17] And this is the whole point of the idea of apostle Paul. We don't want him sitting up all night making tents if it means that he's going to be so worn out that the man either will go into a premature grave or we're all the time going to be having to lay hands on him for healing. [01:05:32] I mean, medical as it may be, we just don't want that kind of thing. You can't burn the candle at both ends. [01:05:39] No, the point is this. We must help the Lord's servants in this way when there's a job to be done. [01:05:49] I mean, we can all pray and pray and pray, for instance, for the evangelization of Britain. But if no one's going to help at all, how are we going to get evangelized? [01:05:58] If they're not going to be people set aside and sent out? [01:06:02] How can it be done? [01:06:05] We can pray and pray and pray about the building up of the church. But unless God comes upon certain people, calls them and qualifies them by his spirit, and we are prepared to support them, how is the work of the building up of the church to be done? You see, we can be terribly spiritual about these things. Oh, my passion is a recovery of the testimony of the Lord. [01:06:28] But we hang on to the cash. [01:06:31] We never part with that. Well, what's the point? [01:06:35] I think the Lord says, I'm tired of hearing so and so on about the recovery of the testimony of the Lord. [01:06:43] Why don't they help? [01:06:48] You see, God's word is so intensely practical when it comes to it. Well, I think then we'll finish there. [01:06:56] It's not an easy subject, this matter of the servants of the Lord. Let's just sum it up very briefly. What is it all about? First, we're commanded to support the Lord's servants. Secondly, we find two levels upon which those servants can live. [01:07:15] One, they have a right before God and heaven to take decent wages. [01:07:25] Two, they can forego that right and not be a burden in any way to the people of God by taking those wages. [01:07:37] Now, just because a person lives on that second level doesn't mean that we automatically have got to support him or her. [01:07:46] I think it's good for us to be open in our hearts before the Lord that we should adopt servants of the Lord in our heart, not knowing, but in our heart. Now, this doesn't mean some people say, oh, dear, dear, dear. You know I don't like that kind of talk. Look, forget us. [01:08:07] Adopt Eileen Lodge, adopt Joan Shaw, adopt Colin and Ina Barkley. [01:08:17] Adopt George Werwer or the captain of the ship or someone else. But we should be open before God that we're doing our part in the work of the furthering of the gospel and the building up of the church. That's the point. Of course, some of you who are more practical, I mean, obviously, what's the point of supporting people everywhere else? You're not supporting your own kith and kin. In a sense, that's quite right. You can't be praying for expansion and outlaws and everything else without shouldering it. Now, thank God for people who say, I will take no wages. [01:08:54] Thank God. I've lived now for some years like this. I've seen the ups and the downs. I've seen others come in. I think sometimes I don't mean just here, but into this work here and elsewhere. Quite, you know, all of us, we come into it with certain ideas about what living by faith means. Generally rather glamorous and certainly easy. [01:09:20] But it's not so at all. Or the word of the Lord is tried. [01:09:26] And any person who steps out on this level is going to be tested to the nth degree. And God's going to be in charge of that testing just to sift out whether that person is really called. [01:09:41] Because it has to be. Woe is me if I preach not the gospel or whatever other job it is. [01:09:47] Do you see what I mean? Now some people say, well, then we should have those who preach the gospel. Yes, but, oh, thank God for those who do practical jobs. What would we do if there wasn't someone who looked after the house? [01:10:01] If there wasn't someone who cooked me meals? We could go out. We paid a little for our meals. We could go out and eat a meal. But time's wasted. What could we. What do we do with such folks? Do you understand what I mean? Sometimes some of us are consumed on material things. If only God would raise up people who think, my job is to give myself to this material thing. Do you see what I mean? [01:10:29] In supporting such a person, we release others to get on with much more important work. [01:10:37] Well, all this only the Lord can teach us. I say it was 1952 that we last spoke on the ministry of giving. So forgive this rather bold and blatant study on the supporting of the Lord's service. We probably will not be speaking again on this subject until, I suppose, 1981 or two. I don't know. Maybe the Lord will be back by then. [01:11:03] But the great thing is, let's be open. Let's be. If we don't let anyone feel they've just got to automatically support this one or that one or the other. Not so at all. [01:11:14] You use the anointing given to you by God so that you know in your heart what you should be doing. And don't be a partaker of other men's sins. [01:11:28] Well, let's ask the Lord to help us. [01:11:35] Dear Lord, we've talked about this very practical matter this evening of supporting thy servants and these two different levels upon which thy servants can live. Now we pray, Lord, that thou come in, blot out anything that has given a false impression and make clear all that's of thyself. [01:11:59] Lord, how we need to understand what thy word really says on this. And, o Lord, we pray that we might be a people who know something of a fruit that increases more and more because we are involved in this fellowship of giving and receiving. [01:12:20] Help us, Lord. O help us. And may we all know what it is to give and to receive. [01:12:29] Pressed down, shaken together and running over, we ask it in thy name. Amen. Amen.