PAYING FOR MINISTRY

The work of Jesus, in the practical and financial sense, was not any different than anyone else who does ministry on a freewill and faith basis. He, along with his twelve and many others who traveled along from place to place needed food, lodging, clothes and all the other necessities of living. They needed a certain amount of money and materials to do their work. I don’t read anywhere that they “took up offerings.” Nor do I read where a crowd is coerced for twenty minutes to milk them of their money, providing little pre-printed convenient envelopes indicating a gift of $50,000, $10,000, $1,000, $500, $100, or “other” meaning a cheesy and cheap amount of anything under $100 to “support the ministry,” or, credit cards accepted. I also did not notice long and exaggerated messages on “if you give a lot—you will get a lot” of money from God. The prosperity message seems to follow many years after and mostly in America where we are prosperous. The Jesus prosperity message went like this, “None of you can be disciples who does not give up all of his possessions.” Hey, things change over the years.

So how did Jesus and the others “make it” while roaming around Palestine for years? There is no way to know for sure but we do know in part. The gospel of Luke tells us, “Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.” It is these women and “many others” who are mentioned. This is the original way was for those who believe in others and what they are doing give to help support what they are doing.

“Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Jesus