When we hear stories of believers in revival churches today, it is very sad, especially when we look at how some religious organisations function. My brother, my sister, I was brought into Christianity by observing a Mormon family… yes, God works in us in one way or another! I have never embraced that religion, but God used this family to teach me about humility, hospitality and much more. Today, many believers often act like they are forced to support servants of God in the work of the ministry. I remember someone telling me once “The work I am doing in church is not for you, I am doing it for Christ.” I answered, “if it was really for Christ, you would not have answered me this way!”
Today’s passage says this: “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.”
The fact is that we always forget that when we help someone who is spreading the Good News, we are in some way a partner in the ministry. My friend, not everyone should go to the mission field: those who work for Christ at home are vital to the ministry as much as those who go on a mission and need support. As believers, we can support missionaries by praying for them and by giving our time, hospitality or money. My friend, yes, the Mormons send missionaries abroad for a year: when I was in Minneapolis (USA) in that family, every Sunday they received missionaries at their table after church… you had to see how the table was set: all Sunday lunches were a feast in honour of two missionaries!
Today, when a ‘Christian’ receives a brother or sister, whether in need or not, it lands on a Facebook profile as if it is an exceptional thing… when it does not end up in gossips on that brother or sister. I know a pastor who travels two hours to his church and he prefers to stay in a hotel, because he used to stay at a church member’s home… and it ended up with the church member becoming disrespectful with the pastor! How sad! My friend, imagine the awkwardness if a servant of God must seek support (money, time or lodging) from unbelievers whom he is trying to preach the Good News to. The truth must be told: many Christians only want to receive… so giving or supporting a ministry for them should not even be mentioned. My friend, today’s verses remind all of us that it is the responsibility of Christian churches and Christian individuals to support the workers of the Kingdom. The Catholic church does it in some extent; the Mormons do it; the Muslim do it… when it comes to today’s revivalist churches, in which many like to believe they are ‘more saved’ or at least ‘more spiritual’ than the others, most of the time, all we hear is gossip, slander, pretexts, rebellion, etc… Let’s return to the practice of the Word of God to be true Christians. My friend, know that even if we refuse to support a ministry, God is jealous of what belongs to Him, so He will always raise support for the progress of His work. Nevertheless, a real growth comes when we can self-examine and recognize what we are doing wrong in order to change. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.