Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 9:8-12

...For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

In this passage, Paul talked about providing for the ministers. It is a biblical principle that ministers ought to depend on God by faith, and we need understand that God is the ultimate provider. In the Old Testament, when Israel was going through a famine, God sent crows to bring meat to Elijah. We need to come before God and wait upon Him to provide for us, instead of fighting tooth and nail for our own wages. We need to trust God's guidance, for He can provide for us abundantly.

Those who serve God must trust that He will provide for them abundantly, but believer, on the other hand, must also understand that we have the responsibility to take care of the needs of the ministers. Believers must not have the wrong attitude that think Lord will somehow send crows to deliver food to the ministers. Since God will do it, let's just get out of the way! That's not a responsible attitude. We need to understand that God has given everyone the responsibility to provide for the ministers among us and we can't shortchange them. Chinese churches often find excuses to mistreat ministers, such as believing that ministers should be financially deprived. Does poverty equal to spirituality? Such thinking is completely erroneous! On the contrary, I've seen some churches that treated their ministers generally because they believe that proper appearance of their minister presents a positive image for their church. The opposite is also true - If others see that your church ministers look miserable, they probably think your God is a God of misery!

May God help us to treat our ministers generously. We very often see lay believers begging God to bless themselves, but they do not bless their ministers with the same rigor. If you ask God to bless you, then you must apply the same standard to bless your ministers, because that's what triggers God's blessing on you. May God help us to see such truth so that His Kingdom will lack nothing in every way.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I once again come before you and ask that you teach us the lesson of faith. Teach us to truly understand how to treat our ministers generously so that your Kingdom and your servants will lack nothing. May you bless all the brothers and sisters. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!