Supporting Kingdom Workers

Wilson Lim

19 hours ago

12 min read

There is a wide variety of churches, ministries, and Christian organisations. A key question is: how do we support them? How do we support their staff? How do we support visiting ministries?

On one hand, some appear to receive very large salaries or financial support — though in reality this group is quite small. On the other hand, many more receive inadequate support, and some struggle significantly. Their proportion is far greater than it ought to be.

Throughout Church history, this has been a major issue. Many views and approaches have emerged regarding how to support such workers, whom I refer to as Kingdom workers. Even in the Apostle Paul’s time, it was already a matter he needed to address.

My hope is that God’s people will better understand the key biblical principles related to this area. The passage of 1 Corinthians 9:1–18 offers us important insights.

RECOGNISING KINGDOM WORKERS

1 Corinthians 9:1 - 18 (NIV) 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

In this part of the epistle, Paul began a passionate defence of his calling as an apostle. Although Paul founded the church in Corinth, there were some within who were questioning whether Paul was truly an apostle.

Some argued that Paul was not as eloquent as apostles like Apollos or Peter, believing he lacked the charisma or wisdom they assumed an apostle should possess. In other words, Paul did not “tickle their ears” the way they were accustomed to in the philosophical arenas. Paul addresses some of this in 1 Corinthians 1–4. Others reasoned that Paul was not associated with Jesus in the way the original twelve apostles were, and therefore questioned how he could have been chosen as an apostle. This likely prompted Paul to emphasise that he had seen Jesus on the road to Damascus — a statement many Christians today mistakenly treat as a criterion for apostleship.

Others felt that since Paul did not depend on their donations as others did, he must somehow be of a lesser standing than them. Perhaps he is not an apostle!

It is important to identify genuine Kingdom workers, especially if we are to support them.

In effect, the Corinthian believers were struggling to recognise Kingdom workers, particularly Paul. It is important to identify genuine Kingdom workers, especially if we are to support them. To recognise them appropriately, we can draw several key thoughts from this passage.

Consider their calling (v1a): “Am I not an apostle?” Is there evidence of God’s call upon their lives for the ministry role?

Consider their relationship with Christ (v1b): “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Is there clear evidence of their ongoing relationship and allegiance to God? Be cautious of those who appear to serve God but are ultimately serving themselves.

Consider their fruits of ministry (v1c): “Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?” One way to recognise a person’s calling is to carefully examine the biblical fruits of their labour. An evangelist will win souls. A prophet will discern God’s voice and speak prophetically. A pastor will shepherd the people. A teacher will teach effectively. An apostle will establish and grow churches, and oversee other churches. Is the fruit leading to godliness and righteousness rather than the opposite? Are the church and ministry staff truly advancing God’s work?

Consider their ministry recognition (v2): “Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” Here we see the issue of recognition. Are they recognised by other ministries? Do other fivefold ministers affirm their calling and role? Will others vouch for their ministry — their faithfulness and devotion to God?

These are some key questions we can ask.

RIGHT OF SUPPORT

Paul began to outline reasons why both he and Barnabas were deserving of support from the Corinthian church. From this we can determine a number of key principles.

Fairness in treatment (v4-5)

“4Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?”

Those who are equally deserving should receive similar treatment, similar support.

Peter (Cephas) and other apostles, even Jesus’ brothers, were receiving support when they came to Corinth to minister. Even Peter’s wife received support as she travelled with him. Hence, it is only fair to expect the same treatment for Paul and Barnabas. The principle of fairness should apply in support. Those who are equally deserving should receive similar treatment, similar support. There should not be favouritism. Rather, we should be discerning of their personal circumstances and provide a fair level of support.

In our church, we consider the size of the congregation that is ministered to, as the larger the congregation, usually the larger its financial capacity. We consider the time the minister is likely to invest in the preparation, the actual ministry times, the total time away including travel required, etc. We consider whether the minister is an itinerant minister, as they are more dependent on the income they receive from the ministry.

Common practice as common sense (v6-7)

“6Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?”

No soldier fights at his own expense. Imagine if soldiers are told, “Pay for your own gun and ammunition, own protective vests, own boots!” At one time, the sad reality was Australian soldiers bound for Afghanistan had to buy some of their own gear because they did not trust the army-issued versions.

It is simply common sense that workers are covered for the costs of the work, receive some personal returns for their efforts.

Just as farmers can eat from their produce or shepherds drink of their flock’s milk, Paul argues that it is simply common sense that workers are covered for the costs of the work, receive some personal returns for their efforts. Hence leaders such as Paul and Barnabas have the right to receive support from the Corinthian church since they established it, guide and continue to minister to it.

The principle we derive is that if one contributes significantly to the well-being or operation of an organisation, it is fair to be supported. If one is hired to do a job, they should be paid accordingly. Paul then proceeds to expound Scriptural principles…

Support from the ministry (v8-14)

“8Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don’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? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”

Paul quoted Deuteronomy 25:4 (NIV) “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain”. The context is probably where an ox is rented to tread a farmer’s grains. Some farmers mistreat the ox by not allowing it to feed on their grain. Because they could not care less about the conditions for the ox that they rented. “Let it go hungry!” Have you ever found that when people borrow or rent something, they tend to treat it less carefully?

Take my books, for example. I’m quite a particular person when it comes to books. I treat them lovingly. My books usually look pristine — crisp pages, clean edges, no bends, no bruises. And if I ever underline anything, it’s done with a ruler, slowly and carefully, like a man performing delicate surgery.

So you can imagine my reaction when people borrow my books and return them with dog‑ears. Some even underline them — with terrible, wavy, earthquake lines! It’s as if the book went out for a peaceful stroll and came back from a battlefield.

I’ve had to learn to live with that nowadays. Especially since my wife, Lai Ling, is the complete opposite. She dog‑ears without hesitation. She underlines all over the place. She treats books like living companions, not fragile artefacts. And God — with His gentle humour — uses this to grow me out of my preciousness. Out of my tight grip on neatness and control. He uses dog‑ears and wavy underlines to teach me patience, humility, and grace.

Those involved in God’s work deserve support from the ministry itself.

So God says, “Treat the ox right. Treat the owner of the ox rightly by allowing the ox to eat from what it treads.” Paul made the point that those involved in God’s work deserve support from the ministry itself. Especially if they have no other income source. Indeed, God designed the temple ministry to cater for the priests' needs. In the Old Testament, tithes and offerings were given to God in terms of foodstuffs and livestock. A portion was burnt, sacrificed unto God, but the remainder was for the priests so they could live off it.

In the church, if we have been spiritually blessed, we should bless in return.

In the same way, in the church, if we have been spiritually blessed, we should bless in return. Galatians 6:7 (NIV) “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” Paul also referred to the instruction that Jesus gave in Luke 10:7 (NIV) “…the worker deserves his wages”

So church staff, ministry staff, people who establish their own ministries, etcetera, have a right to receive appropriate support from it. Of course, the support should be within the organisation’s means. The ox cannot eat more grain than it has trodden!

Those who have greater responsibilities and bigger roles should be compensated/supported accordingly. Just as in the temple, the Aaronic priests receive a greater portion compared to the Levitical priests. This recognises that some roles require much more experience, expertise and responsibilities.

Honour God’s servants (v11-12a) “11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?”

Part of the reason why this whole passage was written was because the Corinthian church failed to honour Paul as a servant of God. There were segments in the church who were critical of Paul, dishonouring him. Paul also wanted to set the biblical perspective as it impacts their treatment of other ministries.

When we honour God’s servants rightly, we honour He who sent them.

One critical key is that we should honour God’s servants. When we honour God’s servants rightly, we honour He who sent them. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - 13 (NIV) “12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”

Honour can be demonstrated in a wide range of ways. Financial support is only one of the key ways. Honour is demonstrated by the way we love them, encourage them, pray for them, lend a hand, speak well of them, etc.

Honour is due to all of God’s servants, and there is a rightful place for giving double honour to those who serve their role faithfully and well.

Honour is due to all of God’s servants, and there is a rightful place for giving double honour to those who serve their role faithfully and well. In other words, excellence should be recognised with extra honour. 1 Timothy 5:17 - 18 (NIV) 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

Again, this can be shown in a variety of ways. But the key is to express it tangibly, so it is obvious to be double honour, so that they are encouraged, affirmed for a job well done, etc. As an example, our family of churches in Malaysia expressed double honour to the national leader Ps. Simon by buying him a car some years ago.

RESTRAINING THE RIGHT OF SUPPORT (v12b, 15-18)

“But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.”

After Paul’s extensive efforts to argue for the right of support, he turns around and declares that he has no intention of exercising those rights. Why?

Firstly, he was willing to forego such support if it might hinder the Gospel in any way.

Hence, he operated as a tent-maker. I did the same, working as a research scientist while pioneering this church as a volunteer for about 5 years before I went part-time – so as not to burden the church.

Secondly, he was willing, even eager, to preach the Gospel voluntarily.

To Paul, there were greater rewards than the material support he could have received. The greater reward was the satisfaction of offering the Gospel at no cost to the Corinthian church. Paul did something counter-cultural to the times and context of Corinth. To tangibly demonstrate this truth: the Gospel is free. The Gospel is freely available because of God’s grace. Paul chose to present it freely to the Corinthian church. To tangibly drive home the point that the Gospel was truly free.

Thirdly, Paul knew that his relationship with the church was fragile.

Hence, he did not want to strain it further. Now, the other apostles did not choose to do it that way. We know this because they received material support. And in fact, Paul did willingly receive support from other churches and individuals at other times. 2 Corinthians 11:8 - 9 (NIV) “8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.”

We know he received support from the Philippian church instead. Philippians 4:15 - 16 (NIV) “15 … in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.” On the practical front, we must remember that Paul was single and had no family to support. So, it was much easier for him to live only on a very small income.

So now we have 2 main principles.

Firstly, the right of a Kingdom worker to receive appropriate support for their ministry.

Those who receive the ministry should take responsibility to provide appropriate support to honour them, both materially and in other relevant ways.

The sad thing is, I have seen churches expect Kingdom workers to make all the sacrifices, to live by faith. But the church itself fails to live out its faith by honouring its Kingdom workers by giving and blessing them. The consequence is that the Kingdom worker faces more personal stress having to cope financially. Sadly, I know of children of pastors who are turned away from ministry because they experienced firsthand how poorly their parents were treated.

Secondly, the Kingdom worker should consider restraining from receiving such support

– if it hinders the effectiveness of propagating the Gospel. Self-sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. It is by this attitude that we know whether one is truly a Kingdom worker.

Sadly, we all know of Christian leaders who take all they can receive, earning enormous amounts. My conviction is that once we can live adequately and provide for our family, we really do not need much more. Can we be generous and give it to others instead who are in greater need? Give it to further the ministry? I am so inspired by the example Ps Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. When his books became famous, and he earned millions from it, what did he do? He repaid his church all the salary it had ever paid him. I believe it was more than 20 years of salary.

CONCLUSIONS

I want to honour all who serve God’s church and make sacrifices in their income. As God’s people, we must recognise and honour those who do so. Those who have been blessed by their ministry should do our best to provide them with appropriate support so they can continue to serve the Lord without facing undue financial stress.