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1 Timothy 5:18
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18 For [gar] the scripture [graphe] saith, [lego] Thou shalt [phimoo] not [ou] muzzle [phimoo] the ox [bous] that treadeth out the corn. [aloao] And, [kai] The labourer [ergates] is worthy [axios] of his [autos] reward. [misthos] KJV-Interlinear
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." NASB
The ‘ox’ and the ‘laborer’ are quotes from both the Old Testament and the New Testament books, specifically Deu. 25:4 and Matt. 10:10, and Luke 10:7.
Pauls knowledge of the Old testament scriptures should be obvious, but He was also familiar with the Book of Luke, since he quotes from it, and treats his comment here as a quote. If he was familiar with Luke, then he most probably was familiar with the other gospel books. That is an inference that we can only assume.
These quotes indicate that reward or wages, must accompany labor. There is no such thing (in truth), as slave labor or labor for free or no pay.
Anyone who works, must be compensated. No one has the right to take advantage of anyone else. God made provision for the ox, which is merely an animal, so a person is much more valuable to than any animal. It goes to say that any human being deserves better than what animals receive.
And since people work for wages and compensation of various sorts, in this temporal life, then again, how much more is the value of one who teaches doctrine, which is for the spiritual life and of eternal value to those who hear or read the instruction!
Paul places this burden of obligation on the student of the Word of God.
Whether you accept this obligation or not is between you and God, and no one else.
God can spread the gospel and doctrine around the world without the help of anyone, therefore that aspect of your support and its amount, is not relevant.
What is relevant is your attitude, and then your reasons for accepting or rejecting the responsibility, for supporting or not supporting those who teach the scriptures.
For this, you will either subscribe to Gods expectation of you, or you will not. And likewise, any reward or credit or blessing (or lack of them) related to your effort is due to your decision.
As goes attitude toward God, Christ, doctrine and the mandates contained therein, so goes your life. You have the potential for total control over your success or failure in life through your decisions to comply or ignore that which the Bible teaches.
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