Paul was a tentmaker by profession and during his career as an apostle he cared for himself in addition to gifts he received. In 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 we read: “Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.”
This attitude of Paul is seen quite often throughout his letters. Contrary to what we often see among servants of the Lord these days, he was not concerned about money, but about souls – not earthly treasure, but heavenly treasure. His statement above that he does not want the people’s possessions, but them, is very significant. He reflected the Lord’s heart. Today the church is conditioned to give so the pastor does not have to work himself and can look after the congregation, which is a fair thought providing they do their job. This approach, however, often leads to the thought that we only have to give our money and for the remainder are free to live as we please.
According to Ephesians 4:11-16 every single person in the church has a job. No one should only warm the pews. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
This is the Lord’s dream for the church and is why Paul said he was not so much interested in the people’s money as he was in the people themselves. In this passage he mentioned “prepare God’s people for works of service”, “until we all reach unity in the faith”, “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”, “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” and “as each part does its work”.
Does this happen in church, or are most people spectators? “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says,” (James 1:22). Maybe we can argue that we sit every Sunday in church, learning, so that we can become like Paul had told the Ephesians above. But does that happen? Do we aim to reach unity in faith, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness in Christ? Do we speak the truth in love to one another and to the unsaved? What is your part of the work that you are actually doing regularly? Do you prophesy, do you teach, do you encourage, do you serve mercy and so on, actively as part of your daily life?
Pastors need to train and equip the people, but it is not up to them to do the work. The people should do the work. Training should be gift related and specific, to attain certain standards and objectives, inclusive of supervised practical application so that the trainee would be confident to be an effective servant in the end. In other words, leaders should identify the individuals’ gifts and train them accordingly.
Lord, help me to give myself.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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