There is a strange twist in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. In both letters, Paul defends his way of ministry to them. It seems the Corinthians were offended that Paul wouldn’t expect or accept their financial support. They seemed to believe that providing support was necessary for Paul’s apostleship to them. In reality, it was more about their pride than anything else.
This controversy doesn’t hit full throttle until Paul’s second letter. But there must have been a seed of it in the letter to Paul from Corinth, which initiated Paul’s writing of the first letter. In chapter 9, Paul lays out the argument for why support is permissible and why he doesn’t expect it.
Paul begins, “This is my answer to those who question my authority. Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?” (1 Corinthians 9:3–6, NLT) He then continues to explain why a church should support its pastor(s).
Even though Paul recognizes a right to their support, he also has the attitude of refusing that right for the sake of the Gospel. “If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.” (1 Corinthians 9:17–18, NLT)
Paul goes on to explain his ministerial attitude. “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22–23, NLT)
Preaching the Good News of Christ should always be a labor of love regardless of the circumstance. That doesn’t mean financial support is wrong, but neither should it be demanded, nor should the lack of support silence the Good News.
There are times when ministers must freely give of their time and passion to proclaim Christ. There are also times when they do so with the financial blessing of the congregation or other believers. There are also times when ministers must, like Paul, go bi-vocational in order to provide some or all of the means to proclaim the Good News. This Corinthian Controversy wasn’t really about money but about pride.
That monster of pride can attack both sides of this equation. Both the congregation and the minister are suspectable. And yet Paul’s attitude was I will give up all my rights, all my reputation, all my resources, all my entitlements, all my pride so that I may proclaim Christ and save some. The solution to this controversy isn’t to arrive at a perfect formula for ministerial support; the solution is to slay the monster of pride. The circumstances will vary greatly from place to place and people to people. There is no perfect formula, only a perfect attitude that seeks to freely proclaim the Gospel to all people everywhere, no matter what.
I said this before and will say it again and again. Don’t restrict what God can do based on what you have or don’t have. Do what you can, where you are, and with what you have, God will multiply your effective service in ways beyond imagination.
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