1 Corinthians 9:13, commentary and pictures

Those who served in the temple lived from what belonged to the temple, and those who served at the altar shared in what was brought to the altar. This arrangement gives those who impart spiritual blessing the right to live from the sacred work they serve and to be supported by those for whom they labor. For the gospel this means a tenth of what is received, with gifts and offerings, is set apart as sacred revenue for sustaining ministers and gospel workers at home and abroad and in new fields. What is thus dedicated to God must not be turned aside to other uses, however worthy, such as personal needs, church or school expenses, or care for the poor and sick. Those who give time, thought, and labor in ministry have as much right to wages as other workers and should receive enough to provide for their families and meet the extra costs of their work. Paul had this right as a gospel laborer but gave it up and worked with his hands so that receiving support would not burden poor churches, hinder his usefulness, or give enemies reason to charge him with preaching for gain.

Temple Pattern for Support

Those who ministered about holy things lived from the things of the temple, and those who waited at the altar shared in what was offered on the altar. This temple provision was set forth for the sake of those who labor in spiritual things, to show it is the will of God that ministers of the gospel receive support from those for whom they labor. It establishes the principle that those who minister spiritual blessings have a right to live from and be supported by the sacred work they serve and by those they serve. Those who serve in sacred ministry have a right to receive material support from the religious work and from what is devoted to that service.

All who preach the gospel, whether men or women, are entitled to a just reward for their services. Paul as a gospel laborer could have claimed this support as his right, but he chose to forgo it and work at his trade to support himself. He did so because he feared that accepting support might hinder his usefulness, burden poor churches, and give opponents grounds to question his motives.

At Corinth, where people were suspicious of strangers, Paul was entitled to such support from the Corinthians but chose to give it up. He gave it up so they would not suspect him of preaching for profit and so that suspicion would not weaken his message. His choice did not cancel the right, but showed that a minister may rightly receive support for gospel work even when for wise reasons he lays the right aside.

Tithe Sustains Gospel Ministry

Applied to the gospel, the verse means that a tenth of what God provides, with gifts and offerings faithfully returned, is the Lord's own sacred portion and special revenue fund, His reserve and His own means consecrated for a certain and special purpose. That purpose is the support of gospel ministers and laborers in the field, those chosen to minister in sacred work, near and far, in new fields as well as in other places. Faithful return keeps meat in the house of God and the treasury well supplied, so valuable men called to ministry can be secured, helped with means to prepare, and sustained with their families in the field rather than let drop. Kept to this use with consideration for greater expense of living and hardships in some localities, and not in a niggardly way, it would provide one hundred well-qualified laborers where now there is but one.

The sacred work so sustained is not sermonizing only but ministering in all that this comprehends. It includes those who minister in schools by teaching the Word of God, explaining the Scriptures, and educating students in the things of God, who should be supported by the tithe money. Conferences that look to the schools for educated and well-trained laborers should give the schools hearty and intelligent support.

What is dedicated to God for this support is sacred and must never be diverted to other channels, other purposes, or secular use. It must not be drawn away however good the other object in itself, whether personal advantage, temporal needs, church conveniences, school purposes, support of canvassers and colporteurs, or educating students. Care for the poor, sick, and aged is the churches' own responsibility to arrange, not a charge upon this fund. To make such other use is a great mistake and a departure from the Lord's arrangement, for which God will judge.

God's people who believe the truth must be awakened by special labor to give a faithful tithe, and the churches to pay tithes faithfully, so ministers are encouraged and sustained by that tithe. The tithe in the treasury for ministers in the different fields is to be strictly and carefully guarded and used for no other purpose. The tithe handled by the conference is distinct from box contributions for local meetings, for contributions pay the actual expenses of the meetings where given and all over and above actual expenses belongs to the conference which pays its ministers. Ministers must keep a strict account and place means in the hands of an experienced faithful manager as treasurer rather than take contributions for private use with no one knowing how much was taken and how it was spent, and one young in the faith and weighed down with debt and financial distress should not be made steward of money given by congregations.

Ministers who give time, thought, and labor to the Master's service have just as much right to wages as workers employed in publishing houses and institutions, and should receive their due, a just wage. That wage must be enough to supply their families with food and clothing, and to meet extra outlay in leading out in donations, defraying expenses of tents and camp-meetings, pledges that become debts, traveling from place to place, less durable and more expensive clothing for travel, separation from families at home, eating all kinds of fare and food in new fields, visiting families, and giving means to the very needy for hunger and nakedness. A man who enters the ministry is to be paid from the tithe enough to sustain his family and is never to be left to feel like a beggar or told to sustain himself, even when sent to foreign lands to enter fields never worked before, with the tithe, gifts and offerings brought into the treasury to provide this support. The minister himself is also required to pay tithe according to his ability, and to pay meager wages or by a dash of the pen disappoint a distressed minister and curtail the wages he was led to expect is injustice and robbery, just as there would be no fairness in cutting stipulated wages of institutional workers.

The working force that bears the message must not be reduced to fit the measure of tithe in the treasury. Keeping the tithe to its appointed use keeps ministers encouraged, secured, prepared, and sustained with their families rather than let drop for lack of support. Departing from this plan and working upon such a plan brings dearth of means, lack of ministers, lessened blessing on such churches, and divine judgment.