GOD’S PROVISION FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY.
1. What commission did Christ give to His followers? “All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:18-20. 2. What title is given to one thus commissioned? In Mal. 2:7 he is called God’s “messenger;” in 2 Cor. 8:23 these servants of God are called “messengers of the churches;” and in Eph. 3:7 the title “minister” is used. 3. What great work is given into the hands of these ambassadors? “But all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the work of reconciliation. We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as tho God were entreating by us; we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:18-20. 4. How much of their time must be devoted to this work? “And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the Word of God, and serve tables. Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Acts 6:2-4. 5. What solemn responsibility rests upon them? “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them; for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account.” Heb. 13:17. 6. What arrangement has been made for the temporal needs of these ambassadors? “Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the Gospel should live of the Gospel.” 1 Cor. 9:13, 14. 7. What prayer is the Christian to pray concerning the work of God? “And He said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2. 8. How can he assist in answering that prayer? “Bring ye the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Mal. 3:10. 9. In the day of God what will they do who have withheld their means from God’s work? “And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake mightily the earth. In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake mightily the earth.” Isa. 2:19-21.