Smokescreens?
Surely you know that the men who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and that those who offer the sacrifices on the altar get a share of the sacrifices. In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who preach the gospel should get their living from it.
But I haven’t made use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this now in order to claim such rights for myself. I would rather die first! Nobody is going to turn my rightful boast into empty words! (verses 13-15)
Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-15
How puzzling! Paul argues vehemently that a person who proclaims the gospel has the right to be financially supported in his ministry. Having done so he just as vehemently defends his stance in refusing to take money or food from the Corinthian congregation. He certainly could have asked for support but had chosen not to.
Why? Because he wanted nothing to get between him, his people, and the preaching of the gospel. This is the message we can gain from this passage. Too often material matters (financial discussions, minor renovations, new carpet, etc) and, perhaps, whether the pastor gets paid too much, become a smokescreen in the relationship between pastor and congregation. The pastor’s primary task is to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments. If people are to grow, God’s word needs to be heard. When matters of lesser relevance and importance detract from this, a congregation can lose sight of what it is really on about.
Lord of the church, help me to encourage my pastor to preach your word strongly, and help me to see the need to support my pastor in this work. Amen.
by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)
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