Missionaries begging for Support
Missionary Support Begging. There is a misperception by many people, even many missionaries, that if you receive money from individuals or churches, you are begging. Christians are not to be beggars. King David said…
Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
So what we can conclude is that it is not biblical for Christians to be begging, much less ministers of the gospel.
So who are doing this? Actually there are some missionaries who seem to “beg” (ask strongly for people to give them money) for some trumped up reason, like sickness, lack of food, or some other necessity. The tone of what they say seems very much like begging.
The point here is that of unethical behavior by missionaries. This kind of conduct should tell God’s people NOT TO GIVE THEM ANYTHING!
A Laborer is Worthy of his Salary
1Cor 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Tim 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
The principle of God is that a person doing a worthy work is worthy of a worthy salary or reward. The problem here is that we don’t want to make the gospel at a condition. Very simply, we give the gospel away, and we do not condition our service and laborers on the recipients giving us (ministers) something, but rather, we freely give, BUT we teach that the receivers should also give to those serving them, and then we would be completely happy with whatever comes in, even if nothing comes in.