In chapter six of Galatians,
Paul the apostle has given instructions to the church members about
their behavior toward one another and themselves. He told them to
restore one another when they are overtaken with a fault. They were
to bear one another's burdens, not to think too highly of themselves,
and examine their own works and do them as unto the Lord. They also
were to bear their own burdens and keep their eyes upon their own
activities and not worry about what others should be doing. In verse
six, Paul turns his attention toward those who are their teachers. He
says:
Let him that is taught
in the word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things.
Paul
begins, “Let him that is taught in the word...”. Paul is
referring to the students of the word of God.
There is
nothing like being taught God's word; not about the word, or from the
word, but the word of God. Paul knows as a student of the word of God
himself how important it is to be taught the word of God.
Incidentally, Paul wrote almost half of the books of the New
Testament himself, so there is no doubt he knew the importance of
being taught the word.
Paul
goes on to say, “...communicate unto him that teaches in
all good things.” Paul employs
the word “communicate” which
means “to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a
sharer, be made a partner”. The idea is that the student is to
express appreciation by supporting his or her teacher. Notice too
that Paul says, “in all good things.”
We read in the gospel of Luke in chapter ten and verse seven as
Jesus sent His disciples out to minister He told them, “the
laborer is worthy of his hire”.
Moses wrote to the children of Israel in the book of Deuteronomy in
chapter twenty-five and verse four, “You shall not muzzle
the ox when he treads out the corn”, and
in the book of Second Timothy chapter two and verse six we are
reminded, “The husbandman that labors must be first
partaker of the fruits.” In
other words students of the word of God are to support their
teachers.
Now
this idea can go to extremes, and there are some teachers of the word
of God today who badger and guilt their students into supporting
them. This is not to be, however those who teach the word of God need
support to live and be as everyone else. Sometimes this support may
be as simple as a card, a note, or kind words of appreciation. Other
times it may be monetary support, dinners, food or clothing. There
are many ways to bless those who teach us God's word.
Those
who are in the ministry to teach others the word of God are to be
blessed by those he or she teaches, and those teachers who teach the
most effectively are those who know there is support from those they
are teaching. The most blessed teachers of the word of God are those
who do not worry over their pay, their benefits, their financial
packages and the like, but rather are so blessed that their students
simply receive God's word and apply it to their lives.
Next
time Paul will teach the teachers of the word of God, so read ahead,
and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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