Even
though Paul the apostle and his companions had “power”
to receive from the Corinthian church members, they did not exercise
that “power”
“lest”
they “should hinder the gospel of
Christ”.
In chapter nine and verse thirteen of
First Corinthians, Paul asked
the Corinthian church members if they knew “that
they which minister about holy things live of the things of the
temple” where
we read:
and
they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
The
verse begins, “Do
you not know that they which minister about holy things live of
the things of the temple?”
Paul began
with the words, “Do you not know”
which means “do the church members not perceive, notice, discern or
discover” “that they” or
“the priests” “which minister”
or “who work, labor, trad and make gains by doing business”
“about holy things”
or “among the sacred and consecrated things pertaining to God such
as the sacred scriptures” “live”
which means “eat, take food, devour and consume” “of
the things of”
or “out of, by and away from” “the
temple”
which refers to “the sacred place such as the temple in Jerusalem”.
Paul questioned the church members as to whether they knew the
“ministers”
within “the temple”
partook of the “things”
which were used within it.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?”
Paul
continued with the words, “and they”
or “the
ministers” “which wait”
which means “to sit near, attend to assiduously and not to quit
one's side” “at the altar”
which means “the place for slaying and burning of victims
(animals)” “are partakers”
or “are assigned a portion, participate within and take part”
“with the altar”
which means “the place for slaying and burning of victims
(animals)”? Paul further questioned the Corinthians concerning
those who “sit near and attend to” “the
altar” of
sacrifice “partaking” of the offerings as well.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how he uses yet
another example of the way “ministers” are remunerated for
their work. The “ministers” and those who tended to “the
altars” within the “temple” were able to partake of
the offering which were supplied. They were not to take advantage of
these sacrifices like some in their history, but they were to have
provisions from them. Jesus Christ and His gospel provides “eternal
life”, and “temporary” things given to “ministers”
are provisions from the offerings given to God in the church. Let us
realize the “sacrifices” and “offerings” we give to the
church are to be used in a proper manner that supplies the
“ministers” needs, and may we never be found to be “stingy”
nor “overindulgent” in our use of God's offerings.
Next
time Paul tells the church members, “they
which preach the gospel should live of the gospel”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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