It must have been “a thing” for the church to provide financial support to Paul or other ministries. I can hear the arguments from Paul’s dissenters,” Well, Paul is not a real apostle, after all. He did not walk with Jesus…in fact, he persecuted Christians.”
Paul first saw the need to establish his apostleship. Paul told these folks that if ever there was a church that would not question His call and leading, it was this church. Further, they need look only as far as their own body to know that Paul and Barnabus were God led to them, and God spoke through these men to change the Corinthian’s world.
So, Paul was now telling this church, to realize that the Church should support its leadership. If not Barnabus and Paul, fine, Paul was happy to be free from the obligation associated with the church’s support. Other pastors and teachers, however, had the right to receive support.
In our day, there are an amazing number of church led and parachurch led ministries. They affect lives every day and in so many ways. Paul’s message still holds true. We as a body of believers need to trust that God has placed the people where He wants them, and we as the family must support them. It is not easy, many times, as we all have numerous things drawing on our resources. Still, in the end, God has and will provide.
We as a people need to give cheerfully and judge sparingly. God will literally sort things out. As a people, we will never outgive God. If one is led to share, then do it without a second thought. God will provide and sustain you. One should, as a steward, pray and follow the Lord’s lead. Please Lord help us to be good stewards of what you give us, but do not allow us to hold on to what we have so tightly , that we miss you.
God Bless You
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas[a]? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
Walking With God 