Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need.
On our way to Paoli Hospital to meet our newest granddaughter, Vicki and I drove through a wealthy community and then passed an actual Hunt Club for fox hunting. I had no idea such a thing existed anymore in America. If ever there was a symbol for the divide between rich and poor, it was the fox hunt where the rich rode the horses and the poor tended them. These verses by Paul tell us that there was a similar divide in Corinth. They considered it a “sin” that Paul would work for his own living, making tents and getting support from other churches.
Vicki and I will forever be grateful to the churches that supported us in the planting process. We are also grateful because no one looked down on us in our financial need. Paul had Philippi to look after him and it did not sit well with the wealthy merchant class in Corinth who viewed apostles as self-sufficient and possessing gravitas. That is not who God calls to commit to him. Praise the Lord for the system he created to spread the gospel to the end of the earth. Let us all find our role in the process.
Dear Lord, thank you for calling us to commit to serving you. May we all find our specific place in the process of making disciples. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church