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The servant of God must exemplify and commend to all a spirit of industry (2 Thess. 3:6-10).
Being designed in the image of God, we are designed to be workers. Even before the fall, Adam had
duties in the garden that reflected this truth (Gen 2:15). The fact that work came before the fall means
that we were designed to work even in a perfect world. This exemplifies that the ability to work is a gift
(verses a curse of the law). No doubt, work changed after the fall as described in Genesis 3 as “painful
toil” and “sweat of the brow” but nonetheless still a privilege that allows us to do it to the glory of God.
(1 Cor. 10:31)
The scripture in 2 Thessalonians points to believers who were busy being “busybodies” and taking
advantage of other Christian’s charity when they should have been working. This scripture is not in
contradiction to taking care of those in need or being generous but an appropriate balance for those who
take advantage of the situation in order to enjoy and have more time for their vices.
The servant of God must reckon that ultimately God is the provider for his every need in life; lest
his work/trade become a god in competition with his God (Matt. 6:24,33). The servant of God’s
attachment to work/trade/profession should be flexible/compatible enough to allow for the steady
progress of the work of ministry.
These are difficult passages. On the one hand, money is not evil, but on the other hand, the love of money
is the root of all kinds of evil…such as Jesus said it’s not a divided heart (as the heart cannot be 50
percent trusting in money and 50 percent trusting in God), but a heart that is “devoted” to the
accumulation of it and therefore trusting in it for alleviating the “worries” of life…i.e., clothing, food,
etc. This contrasts with “not worrying” but seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and “all
these things” (the necessities that we often worry about), will be given us.
A rich man can be devoted to Christ with little thought to his money while a poor man can be devoted to
money with little thought to Christ.
That said, money is one of the biggest snares to a man’s salvation…it will often snare the heart so much
that Jesus said it is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-26). The disciples were astonished asking “who then can be saved?”
(Because riches were supposedly a sign of God’s blessing). His response is the core of the Gospel….
“What is impossible with man is not impossible with God.”
Jesus’s response was that a man cannot help being “devoted” to money and this worlds treasures, for
man knows no other master. But what is impossible with man (changing his devotion), is not impossible
for God…meaning that except for the grace of God, no man is going to enter heaven. A man cannot
change his “god” (money), except by God’s grace through salvation, giving him a new heart (Ezekiel
36:26).
The rich young ruler went away sad because his heart was devoted to his riches. If he had humbled
himself and confessed this to Christ, asking for a changed heart, Christ would have freely saved the man.
In summary of this point, whether it be a rich man or poor man, the human heart has been said to be an
“idol making factory”, and one of the biggest idols is money. However, we conquer this sinful idol like we
do any other sinful idol in our life and that is taking it to Christ, our sin, our temptations, our idols and
ask and trust Him to remove them by his power and grace.
From a work perspective, this allows us to work for a dollar a day or a hundred dollars a day, truly for
His glory because our hearts are resting and trusting in him.
Industry for the purposes of earning an honorable and decent living by any type of legitimate
business should be commended to the servant of God. Notwithstanding, should some specific
trade or profession prove an undue hinderance to one’s devotion to God or in the pursuit of
God’s calling on such a one, renegotiation of terms and conditions of service must be prayerfully
considered. If negotiation should yield no good, a resignation becomes necessary. Alternative
avenues of work with a nature/ term of service more compatible to one’s ministry schedule may
be sought after such resignation. Resignation should always be a last resort.
I completely agree, there are times when God “interrupts” our current situation and we should hold our
jobs and careers loose handed. With that said, I believe you have properly expressed that due diligence is
given to ensure that resigning a job is truly the Lord’s will and call. Some well-meaning Christians may
enter into ministry mistakenly or in deception, actually taking them from the will of God in whatever work
they are currently doing.
Where the local congregation offers to support the servant, he is to receive with gratitude
whatever the congregation will afford (1 Tim. 5:17-18, Gal. 6:6). He is to trust His God to take
care of his needs even when such support is meagre (Philp. 4:11-13). Also, if it be possible, the
servant of God must strive not to be a burden on the local congregation especially where he leads
a considerably poor congregation (2 Cor. 11:9). However, God should certainly be pleased with
a Church congregation that would take upon itself the entire sustenance and upkeep of a minister
and in so doing allow him the peace of mind to concentrate on ministerial labours (1 Cor. 9:9-
11,13)
This is a great summary paragraph of such a topic. Even in your first reference in Thessalonians, Paul
understood he had a “right” to their help but because he wanted to set the example and avoid any reason
for his enemies to make false claims, he refused it. I think it also helped that Paul was not married, nor
had a family, but was able to operate freely as a single man.
It is a blessing when congregations can care well for their pastors. It is sinful if God has provided them
the means, but they fail to do so. Some Christians believe that a vocational minister should live sub-
standard to the norm. While that may be the case in God’s will and timing, it certainly should not be the
case based on man’s opinion when the means are there to take care of the pastor.
The servant of God must learn to leave on a modest budget, so he does not bring himself into
needless financial burdens, as well as have enough to help others as much as the Lord blesses
him. The servant of God is not to position himself as a philanthropist, but he should be known
for his generosity especially coming from his own earnings (Eph 4:28b).
Many Christians in America have not learned this lesson. Our society allows a person instant
gratification with the use of credit cards, thus not living on a “modest budget” but as you said bringing
unnecessary financial burdens on themselves, especially being in debt. Not only does unnecessary debt
and unwise financial decisions hamper generosity, but it also makes the Christian a slave to the debtor
(Proverbs 22:7).
The wife and children where possible should be commended to contribute to household income
and sustenance as opportunity may avail themselves (Prov. 31:16-20). Albeit, he is not to shirk
his responsibility as the primary bread-winner of his family (1 Tim. 5:8). The servant of God
should inculcate in his immediate family a spirit of industry as well as all survival relevant
activities such as keeping a homestead, household sewing, household bakery, etc. where
possible.
For many years in America, the women would take for their first obligations, the care of the husband and
children, especially Christian women. They also were known, as you mentioned, for their skills in
providing for the family in making clothes, canning and preserving food, making meals, etc., which
served the overall family economy well…even with the husband as the primary bread winner of the home.
This approach was based on what you mentioned and several other biblical principles combined.
There are exceptional situations where ministers may have little room to consider industry
particularly due to the nature of their callings and ministerial demands. In most of such cases,
they may consider full-time ministry for purposes of optimum efficiency. This may apply mainly
to itinerant preachers who appear to always be on the move and hence practically not feasible for
them to keep a regular trade/profession. These may include ministries of the pattern/type of the
Old Testament Prophets and the first Apostles, Itinerant Evangelists and Cross-cultural
Missionaries (1 Cor. 9:14). Also to be considered for full-time ministry are shepherd-
theologians, ministers who have dedicated themselves to the heavy task of Biblical scholarship
for the benefit of the larger Church body, as in the case of the first Apostles (Acts 6:2).
I agree, many left their professions to do ministry, such as the fishermen who Jesus called to now fish for
men.
It should be a prerequisite that such ministers be sufficiently planted in a larger church body so
their upkeep can be born or shared by the body of local churches they serve. It must be added
that such ministries must be entered into with the backing and commissioning of the larger
church body.
I believe in an ideal situation; a larger congregation is often able to help in this area. However, I have
also observed small congregations who have had a passion to see God’s word spread among the nations
and have been able to make adequate support. I think it is important that any minister or servant “sent
out” must be sent out by the local church. Even for Southern Baptist missionaries, the IMB does not
“send” but are only the means by which the local church “sends”, although it is a cooperative endeavor
which I believe speaks to your point of the “larger body” being in a good position to bear the
responsibilities.
Aside the above, there may be special though rare cases, when men often called by God to
confront a hostile and apostate Church or people would have to depend completely on God’s
providential arrangements and miraculous provision for sustenance. Elijah is a perfect example
(1 Kings 17:3-10; 19:5-8).
It is comforting to know that even if every professed believer and church turned against you, yes the Lord
would provide a miracle to sustain the faithful…God will never leave us nor forsake us.
In this matter of the sustenance and provision for the servant of God and his family, there is not a
straight-jacketed rule. However, the servant shall look primarily to God’s divine provision for his
sustenance and not to his farm/trade/profession. The farm/trade/profession should be rightly
perceived as among God’s means of provision for the servant. This is necessary so his
commission and service to His Lord does not suffer loss as a result of entanglements with this
world (2 Tim. 2:4).
Agreed, personal situations and callings differ from person to person, but biblical principles remain
steadfast for any circumstance. The Lord has the right and authority to choose these variables. The
Lord’s first command to His first disciples was to “Follow” and according to Mark’s account, they did it
immediately. This was because of their faith in Him. It was not until after they made the decision to follow
that Christ then “appointed some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-12)
It is our responsibility to follow, it is God’s responsibility to lead the way. Only after we make the
decision to follow, does He begin to show us the way.
NOTE: This is an objective attempt to search for what the Bible with emphasis on the New
Testament Church teaches on the subject irrespective of what church traditions have practiced
over centuries. I looked at it from the perspective of the individual Christian called into the
service of His Lord, irrespective of whether he serves in lay or ordained ministry, full-time or
bivocational ministry, as categorized today. Thank you.
Richard, the world of Christianity would be very different today if church traditions and man’s
understanding didn’t skew the truth. Following Christ has a broad spectrum of how it plays out in our
lives, from Peter’s mother-in-law being touched by Christ and serving submissively afterwards in the
home (Mark 1:30-31) to Paul being touched by Christ and becoming a “fool” for Christ’s sake (1 Cor.
4:10). Whatever our calling or lot in life, however that looks for each individual, it is a call to radical
allegiance to Christ.
Your thoughts and observations are a well-defined summary of what the bible teaches on the subject. On
how “we get there” to such a faith is a lifelong endeavor of learning to trust, being sanctified,
disciplined, etc.
As an addendum for readers, I will like to add a famous quote from William Carey (father of
Modern Missions):
When a neighbor remonstrated with him for spending so much time preaching, to the neglect of
his shoe business, he replied, "My real business is to preach the gospel and win lost souls. I
cobble shoes to pay expenses."
Written by:
Commentary (Red): Jon Moody
