Focus: Philippians 4:12-13 - KJV
12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:10-20
Integrity is key to sustaining good report in the walk with God. Many have thrown away their self-respect all in the name of gaining financial capacity through the work of ministry such that they are unable to say the truth of the word to their benefactors and are ridden by the same to the detriment of ministry. It is true that they that work at the altar should feed from the altar; but when feeding from the altar makes one a mendicant so as to take from people whose source of income we do not know or verify, it puts the ministry into dishonor and Christ is not served in that.
The believer is one who should know how to keep his body under, in all circumstances he finds himself. If the flock decide to honor him by bringing, he should bless them and collect; when nobody looks his way, even if he lacks food to eat per time, he should be contented with whatever the Lord puts at his disposal and not go beggarly before those who seem to have. That is knowing how to abase in the time of lack. When we do this, the flock themselves are watching and would respect the more, the ministry and possibly subsume themselves under it.
The mind of God is that believers should take care of them whom the Lord has placed in authority over them as ministers of the Gospel. It is however, not a liberty for the minister to go out of bounds to be laying levy on the followers. Those who bring of their free will end up receiving uncommon provision from the Lord. Learn today to be able to do all things through the strength of Christ: to abase when the need arises due to lack; and to abound when the barns are filled with plenty. Do not however go abounding in a manner that brings the name of the Lord to disrepute because of your excesses.
Please pray:
Father, I thank you for the grace to give to them that are kept in authority over me in my walk with you. Help me as a minister to abase, when necessary, by your strength and abound as time dictates. Do multiply unto me the grace to give to your emissaries from time to time, so that they may never go hungry in your service. And from today, because of my giving of times past, please supply all my needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
Please share with others. God bless you.
Comments