Scripture - 1 Cor 9:8-12 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Observation -It is probably that some in Corinth were debating his Apostleship and his right to receive materially for the work that he was doing. Paul goes on a rant here and begins to not only confirm his apostleship but the necessity that the man of God be taken care of. He explains that a man that plows should plow in hopes of bringing in a harvest. He should not plow, not expecting to reap anything. I believe that Paul connects the work to spiritual deposit into the lives of the people and it is not immoral or immaterial to expect to receive care and material blessings for that work. He compares the work of the man of God to the work of an ox. He explains that God cares much more for man than the ox but yet gives food to both.
Application - I believe that some shifting of expectations needs to happen. It is time to start hoping for the harvest from the labor. The interesting thing is that in agriculture there are seasons. Seasons for plowing, seasons for planting, seasons for caring, seasons for reaping. Too often we only focus on the plowing and maybe the planting - but now its time to expect the harvest. Paul tells us that we can expect to gain the harvest and that the harvest is the real focus. Spiritually or materially God wants to bless those who plow.
Prayer - Father open my eyes to the reaping. I get the sowing and the plowing, now teach me to reap.
Observation -It is probably that some in Corinth were debating his Apostleship and his right to receive materially for the work that he was doing. Paul goes on a rant here and begins to not only confirm his apostleship but the necessity that the man of God be taken care of. He explains that a man that plows should plow in hopes of bringing in a harvest. He should not plow, not expecting to reap anything. I believe that Paul connects the work to spiritual deposit into the lives of the people and it is not immoral or immaterial to expect to receive care and material blessings for that work. He compares the work of the man of God to the work of an ox. He explains that God cares much more for man than the ox but yet gives food to both.
Application - I believe that some shifting of expectations needs to happen. It is time to start hoping for the harvest from the labor. The interesting thing is that in agriculture there are seasons. Seasons for plowing, seasons for planting, seasons for caring, seasons for reaping. Too often we only focus on the plowing and maybe the planting - but now its time to expect the harvest. Paul tells us that we can expect to gain the harvest and that the harvest is the real focus. Spiritually or materially God wants to bless those who plow.
Prayer - Father open my eyes to the reaping. I get the sowing and the plowing, now teach me to reap.
