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2 Thessalonians 3:9
DailyBibleStudy.Org
9 Not [ou] because [hoti] we have [echo] not [ou] power, [exousia] but [alla] to [hina] make [didomi] ourselves [heautou] an ensample [tupos] unto you [humin] to [eis] follow [mimeomai] us. [hemas] KJV-Interlinear
9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example. NASB
Paul and those who worked with him, had a right to receive donations and support from those to whom they taught. After all, when you receive something of value, then there is an implied obligation to pay a fair price for it, even if it is given freely. No honorable person would take and not give back.
However, this is the word of God that is being disseminated, not the usual wares of some corner store.
There are far more folks in the world, that cannot even feed themselves, let alone their families, so they can’t possibly have anything left for a traveling preacher. And, as we studied yesterday, God is not interested in your money. He does not need it in order to support His messengers. But He is interested in your attitude.
But here is the point. Paul and his fellow workers, worked for their living. They engaged in a double duty, as it were, in order to support themselves, and still be able to teach the scriptures to anyone who desired doctrine.
And why? Because Paul wanted all to know that this is the example of how we all should live our lives.
We need to go the extra mile, do the extra work, make the extra effort, in all things in our life.
Far too many folks will do only so much in their life. They will work their eight to five, do only that which is placed before them, make no effort to do anything beyond that which they think they should do, sit back and quietly let others do what they should be doing.
God does not force you to do extra. God does not demand that you do extra. But God does give you the opportunity to demonstrate your unselfishness and genuine desire to not only learn doctrine, but to come up with ways that you can help others as well.
Most folks won’t even read their Bible daily, or weekly, or even annually. Too inconvenient!
Most folks have the means and the opportunity to do more, but they ignore that opportunity, and pretend that they did not think of it.
Many folks don’t have the means or the opportunity, and this principle applies to them as well, but more from the attitude perspective, than the tangible wherewithal.
A poor person can be just as lazy as the wealthy one with respect to attitude. Many do not care.
But the example is set.
God will provide the means, if you provide the desire. God will provide the opportunity, but you have to follow through.
Your spiritual growth is paramount, and more important than anything else, but a part of that spiritual growth includes responsibility and the desire to participate by giving back. But God never forces that issue.
If the genuine desire is there, then the means and the opportunity will always be there.
We all have an obligation to pursue and to support the spiritual life of ourselves and of others. God is able to accomplish the goal of spiritual support, with or without your help. The question is, will others receive the credit for something that you should have done, but did not.
The preparation of instructors, the availability of Bible doctrine, the bringing together of those who want to learn, with those who teach, the mutual support of all of these, will always be accomplished, regardless of whether you help or not. Gods plan does not depend on human effort.
But what is impacted, is your own spiritual life, spiritual production, and ultimately the degree of completion of your spiritual life. And that is something that only you can decide.
Remember our study of a few days ago. It is God who guides and makes the path clear for your spiritual advancement, not you. But out of courtesy, God allows you to participate in His plan (not yours), for your own benefit. You just have to want it, really want it. The spiritual benefits far, far, far outweigh the costs.
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