Advent Devotion

Dear Faith Family:  
 
This is moving day for Carla and I.  Keep us in your prayers that all goes smoothly.  Thank you and blessings, Ken
 
December 11, 2009

Spiritual Seed and Material Harvest

Excerpt from 1 Corinthians 9: 3-14

"Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." (NIV)

Reflection by Kenneth L. Samuel

Is there anything more disturbing than a church dispute about a minister's compensation? It should be encouraging to know that these difficult matters did not originate with our congregations. The first-century church, wrestled with the same issues.

From their struggles, we learn first that spiritual matters are worthy of material investment. I heard a preacher say that "the gospel is free, but ministry costs." And in our day, the work of ministry has broadened to include not just parish ministers, but denominational leaders and staff. How often do we miss the opportunity to attract and maintain capable, qualified persons for service in our churches and in our denomination because we fail to offer adequate compensation? It takes quality investments to maintain and develop quality ministries.

Second, Paul reminds us that while ministers of the gospel should be adequately compensated materially, the motivation of ministers should never be material compensation. "Quid pro quo" (an equal exchange) does not work well for persons in ministry because our labors are labors of love -- the uplifting of spirits, the sharing of the Good News, the support of families in crisis, the blessing of newborns, the development of resources for spiritual growth, the solemnizing of marriages, the work of domestic and foreign missions, the offering of comfort to the grieving . . . these services are offered out of deep devotion to God and commitment to the body of Christ. Still, ministers of the gospel should not have to sacrifice their material well-being for the spiritual edification of the church.

May the seeds of the Spirit produce material harvests of abundance for all who give and receive the gospel of Jesus.
Prayer

Lord God, we are grateful for the immeasurable gift of your church. Now please give us the commitment to make the spiritual and the material investments that are necessary to build and sustain it for thy glory. Amen.