Friday, July 4, 2025

A Biblical Inquiry: The Servant of God, Industry and His Provision for Life

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:

Main (Black): Richard Sowah Akrong (akrong.sdg@gmail.com)

Commentary (Red): Jon Moody 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

WAIT ON THE LORD

 


Wait! It is a simple command but hard to follow. Due to the advancement of technology, we don’t have to wait a long time to get things done. Years ago, it will take two weeks for a letter to be delivered through the post office, today we have the internet, mobile phones, and social media to help us send messages within a short time. People in today’s world do not like to wait. No! They will not wait for minutes for a meal, or stand in a queue for some few minutes, or even wait in line for a bus. We are in a hurry for everything and we just hate to wait.

However, we cannot treat God with this same attitude. We cannot make Him do things in a hurry. When we put our request before Him in prayer, we need to wait for the answers to our requests. Some people call this ‘waiting period’ delay. But God doesn’t delay, we need to learn how to wait. It is a sin to think that God who created the whole world in six days and it beauty will delay when He needs to act.

According to the Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, WAIT: “To remain in readiness or expectation. In Scripture, the word wait normally suggests the anxious, yet confident, expectation by God's people that the Lord will intervene on their behalf. Such waiting may be for answers to prayer (Psalm 25:5), for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4), for salvation (Genesis 49:18), or especially for the coming of the Messiah to bring salvation to His people and to establish His kingdom on earth (Psalm 37:34; Luke 12:36; Romans 8:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). Waiting, therefore, is the working out of hope.”

Some believe that “waiting periods” are actually God saying no to their request or that they are been punished.

2 Peter3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but He is longsuffering toward us.”

In some churches, they pray against the spirit of delay. But in the Holy Bible, there is no such thing as a spirit of delay. It is rather the spirit of impatience. We are impatient with God. Answers to our prayers may be hindered by unseen obstacles. Don’t expect God’s answers to come too easily or too quickly. Prayer may be challenged by evil forces, so pray fervently and earnestly (Daniel 10:11-14).

We find many people who had to wait on the Lord, just as believers today must wait patiently for Christ’s return.

  1. Abraham the father of faith had to wait 25 years for the promised son, Isaac. (Genesis 21:1)
  2. Prophet Simeon waited for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. (Luke 2:25-32)
  3. Zechariah and Elizabeth waited for several years for the birth of John the Baptist. (Luke 1:5-13).
  4. Joseph waited 13 years for his dreams to be fulfilled. (Genesis 42:9)
  5. David waited for 13 years to be king of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:1-3).
  6. Moses waited on God for 40 days and night. (Exodus 24:12).

 

Wait on the Lord. Trust that God promises to you will be fulfilled in this life and in the life to come. Whatever your petitions may be, marriage, business, job, travel, child birth, finance, health, wisdom, grace, and favor wait on God.

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

 

By: Samuel Mantey

Twitter: @SamuelMantey

Email: Samuelmantey@gmail.com

Thursday, June 15, 2023

DANGER IN PLENTY

 

‘When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the LORD’ – Deuteronomy 6:11

 

God had delivered the people of Israel from 430 years of slavery in Egypt. He had anointed Moses to lead the people into the Promised Land, where they will have a new beginning and to worship Him. God gave them many assurances and promises. He even called the Promised Land “a land flowing with milk and honey” meaning a place of plenty food, and money and life is very easy.

 

“So I have come down to deliver them out of the land of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey” – Exodus 3:8

 

Prosperity more than poverty can dull our spiritual vision because it tends to make us self-sufficient. The same thing can happen with our nation, church, companies, and individuals. God told the people while they were in the wilderness that they should be careful when they enter the Promised Land and when they start experiencing the goodness of his promises. Moses warned the people not to forget God when they arrive at the Promised Land and became prosperous.

Prosperity is good but it is often most difficult to follow God when life is easy, we fall prey to temptation and fall away from God.

How can we forget God? When we have more than enough.

In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have us rich and successful.  It is easy to get so busy managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives.

Here are some notable examples of this truth:

 

  1. Adam lived in a perfect world and had a perfect relationship with God. His needs were met and he had everything. But he fell when he disobeyed God’s law.
  2. The Israelites had experienced the bountiful blessings when they settled in the Promised Land, when they were filled, they fell into idolatrous practices.
  3. King Solomon had it all: power, fame, wealth, and wisdom. But this very abundance was the source of his downfall.
  4. The United States and the western civilization have received great wealth and prosperity. But this same grace and blessing have led them to approve same-sex marriages and promote abortion: which leads to downfall.

If you forget the Lord God in times of abundance, you will certainly be destroyed. You will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God.

 

A Call to Remember And Obey

You must fear the Lord YOUR God and serve Him.

Deuteronomy 8:10-18

 “When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.  For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.  He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”


By: Samuel Mantey

Twitter: @SamuelMantey

Email: samuelmantey@gmail.com

 

Friday, October 15, 2021

TITANIC: flying in the face of God

 "Twelve months later, as King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said Is not this the great Babylon I have built as my royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" - Daniel 4:29


The following chronology constitutes a short summary of the main highlights of the story of the R.M.S Titanic in the British Inquiry into the disaster in 1912.

1898     - American author Morgan Robertson publishes the novel "Futility" in which a British                               passenger liner "Titan" hits an iceberg and sinks on her maiden voyage without enough                           lifeboats in the  month of April in the North Atlantic. Titanic was yet to be conceived.

1907 -     At a dinner party, Titanic is conceived by J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of White Star Line in                               William Pirrie's London Mansion. Ismay discusses the construction to compete with                                luxury, size, and speed of rival lines.

19011- May,31: Titanic hull successfully launched, witnessed by more than 100,000 people. At the                                time, she is the largest man-made object ever made.

1912- April 5, Good Friday: The Titanic is "dressed" in panoply of flags and pennants for a salute to                     the people of Southampton. Only occasion she is ever dressed.

         - April 10, Wednesday: Sailing Day. Estimated total number on board is 2,227.

          - April 14: Iceberg warning received via the Baltic. Message delivered to Captain Edward Smith.              Smith later gives it to J. Bruce Ismay, who puts it in his pocket.

           - 9:40pm: Iceberg warning received from the Messaba. Message overlooked.

           - 11:40pm: The Titanic moving at 20 1/2 knots. Suddenly, lookout see iceberg dead ahead. But                   the iceberg strikes the ship. it begins to founder. The Ship is doomed.

             - April 15:2:18 am: Many survivors witness the ship break into two. The bow half sinks.

             -2:20am: The Titanic slowly sinks into the sea. Over 1500 souls are lost in the "greatest                                           maritime disaster in history" with only 705 survivors.

1985- September 1: Dr. Robert D. Ballard finally recovers the wreck of Titanic after nearly 73 years in                 the ocean floor.


Titanic 109 years on. The story brings sorrow, grief, and a lot of emotions which doesn't seem to go away. The unsinkable ship made her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York but got hit by an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sinks. This was not the first maritime ship wreck, but this was a special wreck. We've heard from survivors, scientists, government officials, Hollywood etc but the "what if's' leger on.

There is something unique about this ship. The Titanic has made headlines since 1911. Why does it stirs our hearts? Why does she exert such a powerful spell over so many?

"But long ago, the Titanic had ceased to be just another shipwreck."- Dr. Robert D. Ballard, author, The Discovery of the Titanic.

"Is it the element of Greek tragedy that runs through the story - if only she had heeded the warnings ;if only there had been enough lifeboats; if only...if only. Is it the built-in sermon, the irresistible reminder that "pride goeth before a fall"? - Walter Lord, author, A Night to Remember


The built-in sermon is the cause of the downfall of the ship. In the Bible, we read about the rise and fall of the Tower of Babel, Pharaoh of Egypt, and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Men sought to do great things without depending or glorifying God. He often teaches us how weak, and frail we really are. God sunk the Titanic for the same reasons He destroyed the great empires of old. 

The sin of the Titanic:

"Not even God himself could sink this ship" - Employee of the White Star Line at the launch of the Titanic, May 31, 1911

" We place absolute confidence in the Titanic. We believe that the boat is unsinkable." - Philip Franklin, Vice President, White Star Line.

The owners of the Titanic, White Star Line were determined to boast about the construction of the ship. J. Bruce Ismay, Captain Edward Smith, crew members, rich and poor passengers all believed that the ship was unsinkable. In fact, tickets were sold out before the completion of the ship. God was displeased with such arrogant statements and He sent an angel of death to struck the Titanic. Like Pharaoh, God hardened the heart of Captain Smith, making him ignored all 30 warnings he received.

When asked about the Titanic, Captain Edward Smith said, "I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern ship building has gone beyond that."

Proverbs 18:12 says, "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty."

Benjamin Hart, a builder from Essex, England, was emigrating to Winnipeg, Canada, with his wife, Esther, and his seven-year old daughter, Eva. Esther thought the idea of the Titanic being "unsinkable" was "flying in the face of God", and tried to persuade her husband to change ships. Convinced that disaster would overcome them all, she slept during the day and kept watch at night.

BECAUSE WE ARE SO SURE. IT SEEMED UNBELIEVABLE!

Sometimes the most ordinary circumstances end in the most extraordinary discoveries. There were no coincident in the events of April 14, 1912. The natural elements points to the fact that there was a Divine involvement in the fate of the Titanic. Let us examine these facts;


1. With 40 years experience at sea, Captain Edward Smith mysteriously ignored all warnings of Icebergs in the North Atlantic.

2. The Iceberg was blue, the most difficult kind to see.

3. The night was moonless- no light to show the iceberg.

4. The sea was unusually calm that night.

5. The Captain of the Californian, a streamer nearby was too tired and asleep to be bored by rockets shots and distress calls for help.

6. J. Bruce Ismay had ordered the number of lifeboats to be reduced from 48 to 16.

7. The hymn "Nearer to God to thee" was the last song sung in the Titanic.

8. The Titanic wreck was buried for 73 years, enough time for bodies and bones to decay.


"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble."-Daniel 4:37


By : Samuel Mantey

Email: samuelmantey@gmail.com

Twitter: @samuelmantey


Friday, August 21, 2020

O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E


In the Old and New Testament, the word “obey” is related to the idea of hearing. Obedience is therefore the basis for knowing God’s blessing and favor. According to Noah Webster’s dictionary, 1898 to obey is “to do that which is commanded or required, or to forbear doing that which is prohibited.

God says many times that he doesn’t want our gifts and sacrifices when we give them out of hypocrisy.  God wants us first to love and obey him. To him sacrifices are excuses. God’s love language is obedience.

In the New Testament, the obedience of Christ stands in contrast to the disobedience of Adam. The disobedience of Adam brought death, but the perfect obedience of Christ brought grace, righteousness, and life (Romans 15:12-21).

 

Some scriptures on obedience verses sacrifice;

1 Samuel 15:22 “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

Jeremiah 7:21-23 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Take your burnt offerings and your other sacrifices and eat them yourselves!  When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!

Hosea 6:6I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me. more than I want burnt offerings.

Amos 5:22-24I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.

Micah 6:6-8 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

 

Matthew 9:13 “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’

 

God is pleased when we O B E Y.