9:91 Corinthians 9:9

The command not to bind shut the mouth of the threshing animal was written altogether for people, to establish that the one who plows and the one who threshes should both labor in confident expectation of sharing in the harvest.Ms 10, 1901, par. 16–17 The treading ox pictures those who work under God's eye to advance His cause, and set beside the soldier, the vinedresser, the shepherd, and the temple servant it proves it is God's will that all who preach the gospel, men and women alike, be sustained by those they serve.Ms 10, 1901, par. 16–17+3 That principle applies above all to ministers of the gospel, who should live from the material good that comes to those enriched by their spiritual labor, and it must govern how their pay is decided.AA 335.1–3+2 They are not to be muzzled by limiting or cutting short their wages, nor worn down by selfish auditing, but are to have enough to live on and means in hand to lead out with zeal in building up the work.GW 450.2+3 If even a working animal is not to be muzzled while it labors, much less is any person authorized to muzzle, restrict, dictate to, or control a fellow worker who labors in partnership with God.STMW9 3.2+2

The command not to muzzle the ox that treads out the corn was written altogether for human sake, to teach that the one who plows and the one who threshes should each labor in hope of sharing in the result.Ms 10, 1901, par. 16–17 The treading ox is a figure of those who work under God's eye and direction to advance His cause by lifting minds from earthly things to heaven.Ms 142, 1903, par. 10–11+2 They labor under His direction, and He loves them and requires that their rights be respected with support for their work.Ms 142, 1903, par. 10–11

Joined to the soldier who serves at his own charges, the planter of the vineyard, the keeper of the flock, and those who serve in the temple, the ox proves it is God's will that ministers of the gospel receive support from those for whom they labor.Ms 10, 1901, par. 16–17 All who preach the gospel, whether men or women, are entitled to a just reward for their services.Ms 10, 1901, par. 16–17 The principle is that those who labor should be allowed to share the fruits of their work, and it applies especially to those who preach the gospel.AA 335.1–3

The church should therefore support gospel workers from the material blessings received by those they serve spiritually.AA 335.1–3 Those who spend their strength to advance God's cause are likewise entitled to fair remuneration, and the principle behind the command must not be set aside when deciding the pay of ministers.GW 450.2

God loves those who labor to advance His cause and requires others to respect their rights by providing them with support for their work.GW 450.2+1 The law protecting the ox while it threshes applies to ministers who work under God's eye and direction to lift minds from earthly things to heaven, entitling them to fair remuneration.GW 450.2+1 The principle behind the command must not be set aside when deciding the pay of ministers who spend their strength in this lifting work.GW 450.2

Gospel ministers must not be muzzled, limited, or cut short in their wages by voice or pen.Ms 33, 1912, par. 11+1 Their rights must be respected by not discouraging and depressing them through selfish auditing of their accounts.Ms 33, 1912, par. 11+1 They must have means to work with in leading out in good enterprises, building churches, and pushing the work with zeal in every line.Ms 33, 1912, par. 11+1 Their labor is not measured by hours but constantly taxes mind and being, so they must have enough to live on and means in hand for the work.Ms 142, 1903, par. 141–142

Ministers who give their time, thought, and labor to the Master's service have just as much right to wages as workers employed in publishing houses and other labor, and to pay them meager wages is robbery.Ms 17, 1897, par. 3–4 They should receive their due, wages enough to supply their families with food and clothing.Ms 17, 1897, par. 3–4 The minister himself must still pay tithe according to his ability.Ms 17, 1897, par. 3–4 Their due must reckon with the extra cost and self-denial of their calling: leading out in donations in the places where they labor, defraying the expenses of tents at camp meetings besides providing their own food, and needing more expensive clothing because they travel from place to place.Ms 17, 1897, par. 3–4 It must reckon also with being left with no surplus and long burdened with pledges they are unable to lift, with separating from families they must still support, and with taking up with all kinds of fare and food, especially in countries where the truth is first lifted.Ms 17, 1897, par. 3–4

Paul as a laborer in the gospel could justly claim material support for his work, yet he chose to earn his living by tentmaking.4T 409.1–3+1 He gave up his right at Corinth so he would not burden poor churches.4T 409.1–3 He did so also so opponents would have no grounds to question his motives, lest suspicion of preaching for profit should weaken his message.4T 409.1–3+1 It is right for those who have labored and invested means to reap the fruit of their labor.7T 129.2 Those who at large outlay of means, with much precious time and many experiments, have studied out processes and provided expensive facilities for special foods should be allowed to control a reasonable income from those special products enabled by God's blessing, that as the Lord's stewards they may have means to make appropriations for the advancement of God's work as occasion demands.7T 129.2 No one has a right to borrow or steal that business, to learn the secrets of their composition and take up their preparation to sell for selfish personal profit, or to give the impression of working in harmony with the originators when they are not.7T 129.2

God authorizes no one to muzzle even the ox or working animal while it labors at treading out the grain.STMW9 3.2+4 With far greater force He authorizes no one to muzzle, restrict, dictate to, or control the human agent who works in partnership with Him.STMW9 3.2+4 All works are under the Lord's jurisdiction, and those who trust in God and His wisdom and not their own walk in safe paths.STMW9 3.2+2 They leave workers free instead of placing them under the dictation of erring mortals and presuming authority to withhold proper care.STMW9 3.2+3

Those who stand in responsible positions are not of infallible judgment and are never authorized to rule the mind and work of a fellow worker.Ms 29, 1907, par. 30–32+2 To dictate what another shall do or not do is offensive to God and dishonors Him.Ms 7, 1895, par. 2–3+1 It assumes a power He has not given and will judge, for He alone rules and cares for His workers.Ms 7, 1895, par. 2–3 Those burdened with labor are laborers together with God, His field and His building, invited by Christ to come to Him for rest under His easy yoke and to learn of Him.STMW9 3.2+1