Luke 9:3-4 (ESV)
[3] And he said to them, “Take
nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not
have two tunics. [4] And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there
depart.
In Luke 9 Jesus gave power and authority
to the twelve and instructed them to go out and proclaim the kingdom and heal.
He gave them further instructions in verses 3-4 to take no provisions and to stay
in whatever house welcomed them. There are some groups today who still practice
this, but there are some things we need to understand. First, the part about
staying in homes is rooted in first-century hospitality. It was common for
strangers to be welcomed into a home. While there the homeowner was responsible
for their protection and care. Second, this appears to be a short-term
assignment as we see them returning in verse 10. Additionally, it cannot be the
sole model for ministry since Jesus changed his instructions in Luke 22:35-36,
[35] And he said to them, “When I
sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?”
They said, “Nothing.” [36] He said to them, “But now let the one who has a
moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword
sell his cloak and buy one.
That being said, there is an
underlying principle here that is repeated elsewhere in the Scriptures. The
Apostle Paul twice quotes Deuteronomy 25:4, “You shall not muzzle an oz when it
is treading out the grain.” This is quoted in the context of providing for
those who are doing ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9:9 he argues that apostles
ought to be provided for, and in 1 Timothy 5:18 he argues that elders who
preach and teach ought to be provided for.
The underlying principle is that
it is quite appropriate for pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders to be
financially supported and provided for. While we ought not to expect
first-century customs of travel and hospitality to be the norm today, nor
should we expect those in ministry to get rich off their ministry, we ought to
provide adequately and even abundantly for those who are doing ministry.
Bi-vocational ministry is commendable
and has some benefits. Paul seems to have been bi-vocational for at least part
of his ministry, but not all apostles and ministry leaders were. A minister
ought never be afraid to get his hands dirty. On the other hand, if we expect
our minister to adequately care for souls and provide quality Bible teaching
and preaching on a regular basis, we need to understand that takes time and
energy. A workman is worthy of his wages, as Paul writes in 1 Timothy 5:18. I
once heard a man say, “The Catholics make their priests take a vow of poverty.
The protestants don’t do that. They just keep their pastors poor.” May that
never be. Pray for your pastor and missionaries and provide adequately for them.
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