Part 1: This blog begins a multi-part Bible study. The primary question: just how did Jesus Christ get financial support for His own ministry?
Shortly after the birth of Jesus Christ, we see an amazing example of God providing financial support.
The timing, the logistics, the people, all fit together in a way that only God could orchestrate.
The timing: the wise men had to travel for some distance.
“The wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, asking…” (Matthew 2:1 AMP)
We do not know the distance they traveled, nor where they came from, but it is important that they had a specific goal in mind: We “have come to worship Him.” (2:2)
The wise men displayed considerable persistence. In Jerusalem, they kept asking questions, they wanted an answer.
Then, as the report unfolds, the wise men had a secret meeting with Herod the king. Herod sent them to Bethlehem. Then, the same star that caught their attention in the first place, led them to the exact spot, amazing.
Please carefully read the text: Matthew chapter 2.
Key verse:
Mat 2:11 (NAS) “And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts–gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
Worship first, gifts followed, when our hearts truly want to worship the Lord, our gifts follow easily.
This is a very interesting first account of financial support: they gave a gift of gold. Gold was the money of that time.
As soon as these travelers left, that same night, the Lord told Joseph to flee to Egypt, a journey that would take money. The timing is amazing.
Questions and observations:
1) Who directed these “wise men” to go to Bethlehem? We can see that these men really wanted to find Jesus Christ. They kept asking questions and looking. Their persistence is quite an example. Finally, they were able to locate the town and the Bible says the star “went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.” (2:9) God is able to direct those who wish to serve Him by supporting His work.
2) We do not see that Joseph, or Mary, had any previous contact with these gift/support givers. God is able to put people together in amazing ways.
3) The gold provided the money for the journey to Egypt.
All of the details were in God’s plan. He worked it all with perfect timing, in complete harmony with His will.
Summary/conclusion: Here we see the first example of just how was Jesus Christ financially supported in His ministry. While each of the three gifts does indeed have symbolic significance, the gold was also a very practical gift, providing the money for the coming days.
Take away: When God wants something done in ministry that takes cash, He will provide in His own way, sometimes with surprise. The most important factor is to be willing to follow the Lord moment by moment. The “wise men” did not hesitate, they followed the star, they kept asking questions, and they would not stop until they had accomplished their mission.
Joseph immediately followed the Lord’s instructions to flee to Egypt.
Thus, we see that both the wise men and the parents of Jesus were eager, ready, and willing to follow the Lord’s leading.
Today, God is fully aware of what is going on. He is quite capable of providing the financial support required to accomplish His will, His work. For those who want to do His work, the key is to be open to His leading, walking with the Lord, sensitive to what He wants, constantly asking, praying, seeking the Lord. He will provide in His own way.
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Please feel free to add your comment. Stay tuned, more to follow soon.
Tags: Bible, cash, Christian, gift, God's work, ministry, money, needs, support
Money_Ministry's Blog 
September 11, 2009 at 3:08 pm |
Jesus was an example for us as leaders of the Kingdom of God. His mission was ordained by God. this is an example for us that when our work has been ordained by God, it came from God. Which God gives to us all of the resources, talent, finances, and people that we need to get the mission completed. So many leaders are going about getting finances the world’s way by applying for business loans, or adding additional entries for their flock to give, other than the tithe. We as leaders are supposed to look only to the Resource of our needs which is God through Jesus. I hold empowerment sessions and i have less people that give than those that do in attendance. but I do not ask them for anything. However, God is seeing to it that my needs are taken care of. My ministry is my life, whatever the Holy Spirit directs me to do I do without hesitation. I have wonderful testimonies to tell of the financial blessings that appeared along my path. at one point if I would have met someone like myself in my past I would have figured them to be crazy. But God has the ability to supply all of my needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. and He does it exceedingly and abundantly above what i could ask of think according to the power that works within me. the power that works within me is the supernatural power, that dunamis power the comes only from the Kingdom of God
September 11, 2009 at 6:43 pm |
Thank you for your wonderful testimony. The joy in your life shows how amazing following in the Lord’s will can be. I appreciate your comment.
September 16, 2009 at 8:41 am |
We’ve talked and I appreciate your emphasis, especially on Western materialism and it’s place in the church.
The Bible is clear however that ministry should be paid for. I’ll mention three clear areas for your perusal.
1. The system of Levitical care. God placed a tribe within all the tribes and commanded the tribes to care for them materially. In every way. It was in exchange for their ministry.
2. Paul said Jesus commanded those who preach the gospel to make their living from the Gospel. And he make s a thorough argument for it, not only is it what Jesus commanded but that the workman is worthy and how much more if we pay for milk should we pay for the Gospel…
chk that
3. And then, the teaching elder was worthy of salary and share all good things with those who teach are other clear followups to the above.
It is important from my perspective in order to maintain credibility with Bible nuts like me… to include both sides of the story… like, as I tweeted this morning, God says… money is everything. That’s an important verse. It makes your conversation rounded and Biblical if you include both sides.
Like your tweets… keep ’em coming.
BC
September 16, 2009 at 8:30 pm |
Thank you for posting your comment. I appreciate your interest and encouragement.
Part of what can get us off track is to miss the difference between what is holy and what is common. For example: paying for milk is entirely different than paying for ministry. Milk is common, ministry is holy. Nothing wrong with milk, there is nothing wrong with paying for it. The core of my concern is in the area of what is holy. God says there is a difference and we need to seek to learn how to distinguish the difference. So, I have a difficulty with your term, “pay for the Gospel.”
In using Paul as an example, in the context of his instructions, Paul emphasizes that he made a decision to not avail himself of the financial support that was commanded by the Lord. He gives the reason, he did not want take anything from others. Paul made it clear that, if necessary, he would work with his hands (making tents), and earn enough to support himself and others. There were times when he did not need to work with his hands, and times that he did need to. He had no problem with that approach. It is one thing for God to command support, it is quite a different thing to demand support.
In the Levitical system, I like your word “care.” I think that all of us could use an extra increase in the amount of caring for others. Again, it is one thing to care for others, it is quite different to demand the caring.
As a student of economics, I am not comfortable with the wording “exchange for ministry.” The key idea here is the same today. The Levite priests were serving the Lord, first and foremost. Their service to the Lord was something that others could join in and participate. But, the Levites were not serving the people, so the financial support was not really an “exchange,” not “this” for “that.”
I have the same concern today. Church leaders are supposed to be serving the Lord. So many act like they are only serving the congregation and so they demand an “exchange” of money for their service. Another example: Pay-per-view Christian events, where a person must pay to enter, buy a ticket, those leaders are serving the ones who pay to get in. There is a world of difference.
Jesus Christ Himself said that a worker is worthy of his hire. My question: who are you working for? If Jesus Christ, then let Him write the check. If man, then let man write the check. In the context, Jesus Christ sent His disciples out without money, without purse, take no money, collect no money. And, by their own testimony, they “lacked nothing.” Jesus Christ has His own ways of taking care of our every need.
I have no problem with the “double honor.” I am not sure about the correct understanding of what “honor” means. It could mean salary, but then again, maybe it just means respect.
I have no problem with a group of Christians wanting to take an offering for the support of a leader. I do have a problem with leaders demanding support, demanding offerings, demanding tithing. Because of the great gift that we have in Jesus Christ, we need to return agape freewill offerings to the Lord, not out of compulsion, not out of a guilt trip. but because we clearly understand the wonderful gift that has already been given to us freely. Everything in Christianity is a love gift. It works both ways. That is part of why Paul declined to accept the support offered him. Paul did not want to have anything that looked like an “exchange of money for ministry.” Paul did respond to the financial gifts that were given to him, and to others.
Summary: gifts from the Lord, gifts to the Lord, gifts to others in the name of the Lord. That is what makes Christian ministry different.
September 30, 2009 at 7:07 pm |
Good points of discussion, brothers. A lot of working for our Lord God is volunteer labor using spiritual gifts and personal funds. Jesus was supported by women who had their own funds. The epistles say if you don’t work you don’t eat – – implying either money or bartering exchanged.
October 2, 2009 at 2:22 am |
The gifts of the Magi at His nativity made the Lord one of the wealthiest individuals in the ancient world.
October 2, 2009 at 2:25 am |
nsween is correct: the women of His retinue provided a great deal of support, not the least to say, personal attentiveness.