[He is] the hard-working farmer [who labors to produce] who must be the first partaker of the fruits.
Think over these things I am saying [understand them and grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything.[1]
It seems that the farther we move away from institutional churchianity, the farther we also move away from an understanding of corporate responsibility and accountability. The farther we move away from the law, the farther we also move away from the integrity of the body and the stewardship of material goods.
Hard-working kingdom farmers who labor to produce kingdom fruit in kingdom people no longer enjoy the benefits of righteous protocol. Yes, the “system” has many righteous protocols, even the proper support of those who lead and feed.
Right now, there are brethren—those who lead and feed—who are suffering great financial struggles. Some have lost their homes; others live under the daily pressures of having only a short time for something to happen if they are to keep their homes.
Some have given their entire lives to the ministry of the Gospel, have no retirement, and do not or will not qualify for Social Security. At one time, they relied on God to care for them through the “system.” Conscience no longer allows them to function within the “system.” Scripture exhorts us to take care of the widows and the orphans, and seems to assume that those who lead and feed will be the first partakers of the fruits.
There must have been enough structure in the local churches of Paul’s day to assure the care for those who were widows indeed. Structure that serves us within the will of God is good. Structure that takes on a life of its own, and we end up serving, is bad.
There should be some form of facilitating corporate church responsibilities in every city and region. The new covenant has plenty to say about stewardship that is by the Spirit and yet allows for planning and preparing ahead.
I ask only three things:
That you consider the above Scripture,
That you seek out from among you some men and women of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;[2] and
That you give cheerfully and liberally.[3]
I ask not for myself, but for those who are not yet surrounded by the fruits of their own labor.
[1] 2 Timothy 2:6-7 AMP
[2] Acts 6:4
[3] 2 Corinthians 9:5-15
