One servant leader was invited to speak in a students’ camp. It was organized in a remote area. Four professionals raised funds and organized the camp. The leader was called to handle about ten sessions in a week but ended up doing thirty sessions as other preachers did not turn up. After the camp, the organizers dropped him at the railway station and handed over an envelope. After he reached home, he found in the envelope just rupees one thousand five hundred that did not even cover his journey. The leader wrote: “As professionals you earn about 30000-40000 a month. My one-week salary should be logically 7500-10000. But you gave me a meager amount that did not cover my onward journey. Please do not send any money, it will be returned.”
Lord as inheritance:
God chose one of the twelve tribes to serve him. The Levites did not get inheritance like others, and they had to sustain from the offerings the other tribes brought to the Tabernacle or Temple. (Deuteronomy 18:1-12) Live the Levites, God calls a few people to be engaged in the full-time ministry and they have to sustain themselves by the benevolence of the people of God.
Live by faith:
Those who are specifically called to live like Levites, they have to live by the gospel. Paul writes: “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel”. (1 Corinthians 9:13-14) This was written by Paul who served as a tentmaker to sustain himself in pioneering areas. He lays down a principle for the Christian ministry.
Double honor:
Paul writes to Timothy that ‘elders’ who are good leaders, and work hard at preaching and teaching are worthy of double honor. (I Timothy 5:17)
Rich man:
Like the rich man there are a few Christian leaders who appear to appeal on TV and social media could amass wealth. Sadly, a few people of God show them as an excuse for not supporting genuine ministers of the gospel.
Do I discern and help those who genuinely live by the gospel?