praying effectively: Be Fair Towards Leaders (1 Cor.9:1-14)

(1 Corinthians 9:1-14)  Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? 7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

8 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? 10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:  that missionaries and spiritual leaders should be treated fairly, paid fairly, allowed to have their wives with them, allowed to rest and have holidays, and be allowed to eat and drink;  they should not have to deny themselves beyond what other believers around them experience (9:4-7, 9-10, 14)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your most gracious love.  Thank You for all that You have given to us.  Help us to be good stewards of the money and resources that we receive.  Prompt us to be obedient in tithing and giving gifts.  

May Your children extend Your gracious love to our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially to those who serve in Your kingdom in a big way.  When we commit to sponsoring a missionary, help us hold to our commitments, without thinking that we can stop tithing to our church.  As we are faithful, help us trust that You will continue to see to our own needs, as well as to the needs of our missionaries and pastors.  Help us realize that we are part of this answer to prayer!!!

Help our missionaries and spiritual leaders not to worry about their income, but trust in You to meet all their needs.  Help them to be good stewards of the money and resources that they receive.  May they not become discouraged, but give them opportunities to share the gospel message which will not only spread Your hope, but also give them hope and encouragement to continue on.  Guide us to always remember our pastors and missionaries in our prayers.  Amen.