• Home
  • FAQs
  • Working A Job And Still Forsaking All

Working A Job And Still Forsaking All

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Hi D___,

Thank you for your questions and for the tone of your questions. Arguing for the sake of winning the argument is an exercise in futility, which simply feeds the beast within us, instead of earnestly seeking only to know what is the Truth.
I want you to know that I realize I have no way of knowing exactly what has generated this question in your mind. Perhaps you are approaching this subject from the point of view of having a wife and family who are trying to persuade you to give up your relationship with Christ and His Word. If that is what is taking place in your life, then you had better be willing to put Christ ahead of your wife and children, or you will be found unworthy to called a disciple of Christ.

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

The sum of these two verses shows us that hate actually means that we do not love our father or mother “more than Christ.” We are commanded to put God and Christ ahead of everything, including “our own life also.”
If on the other hand, we are seeking to simply avoid the responsibilities and burdens of providing for the daily needs of a family, then we are denying the faith and are worse than an infidel. Until we are willing to forsake “our own lives also,” we need to be providing for the daily necessities of our families. In other words, until we quit feeding our own face, we need to feed our wives and our children. So I do not need to know what your situation is to tell you what the scriptures say on the subject of providing for one’s own household.
I am encouraged to know that there are those out there who read the IWWB site so regularly, and yes, of course, our emphasis is, as you note, much more on the spiritual than on the physical. I know that you must have noticed that Joh 6:63 is one of the most quoted verses of scripture on IWWB.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

It was right after uttering those words that we read:

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Nothing has changed in the past 2000 years and if you insist on the truth of those words today then the effect is still the same. There will be few “walking with you.”
I have said many times that there are no exceptions to the truth in that verse and that the primary intent of every verse of scripture and every word of scripture is to in some way impart a spiritual message. “Hate your enemy” is no longer the doctrine of scripture and of Christ in the physical realm. We are now commanded to do the exact opposite in the physical realm. We are now commanded to love our enemy. But the command to ‘hate your enemy’ is still the doctrine of Christ in the spiritual realm. We are still commanded to “die daily” to our sinful flesh and all of its pulls against our spirit, because the worst enemy you or I will ever confront is that beast we see in the mirror every morning.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

But these spiritual truths which are always primary do not always deny or in any way disagree with what we see in the secondary truths of the physical realm. For example, the fact that spiritual adultery is understood as believing the doctrines of “another Jesus,” does not mean that physical adultery is no longer an issue with God. Nothing could be further from the Truth. The physical very often reflects the spiritual, and that is especially true of taking care of both the spiritual and the physical needs of our physical families. “He that provides not for his own, especially for those of his own household, has denied the faith and is worse than and infidel,” just like “Thou shalt not commit adultery” is both physically and spiritually true.
For example, look at Christ’s prayer for His disciples concerning their physical well being the night of His apprehension to be crucified by the Jews:

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Christ was concerned and was praying for the physical “in the world” well being of His disciples. Christ supernaturally healed the physical ear of the servant of the high priest, and gained the physical freedom of His disciples that very night:

Joh 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Christ physically placed His physical body between His disciples and danger and gave himself a ransom for His disciples.
So the truth is that there is always a spiritual message in the entire physical creation, as Rom 1:20 reveals.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The invisible spiritual world is “understood by the things that are made.” For that to be so, then the physical world, our physical lives in particular, must be a reflection of the spiritual state of our lives. If we are unable to control our flesh and physical sins are always dominating our lives, what kind of witness are we going to be to others when we speak about the things of the spirit?
Likewise, if we neglect the care of our physical families, what message does that send to the world concerning the God we claim to represent? Does our God not provide for His own wife and children?

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Yes, of course, that is primarily a spiritual statement. But the spirit is reflected in “the things that are made:

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

What God demonstrates in all “the things that are made” is that the parents of birds and beasts, whether on land, in the sea or in the heavens, supply the daily needs of food and shelter for their offspring.
If you are “called a brother” and you commit physical adultery against your wife, you are “blaspheming the name of God,” and committing spiritual adultery as well. The same is true of providing for the daily basic needs of your family.

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Now I am very much aware that there is such a thing as spiritual fornication and spiritual adultery. But does that mean that there is no connection between spiritual adultery and fornication and physical adultery and fornication? Absolutely not! There is a direct link between the two, and I repeat, the same is true for failing to supply the physical needs of your wife and children. Why should anyone listen to anything we are saying about the things of the spirit, if we are not supplying our own physical family with the basic needs of their physical existence? No one yet has ever come to Christ, “the last Adam,” without first being in the first Adam, who is also of Christ. So too, we must provide for and nourish our physical bodies and our physical families before God will entrust us to supply for and nourish our spiritual bodies and spiritual family.

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Christ does not deny the first Adam is His physical son, the physical work of His hands:

Luk 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

But this ‘Adam’ is His “son of the bondwoman” son. That is what we all are before we become the “son of the free woman”. God took care of and provided for Ishmael, just as He did for Isaac. So if any of us truly want to become capable of feeding our children with nourishing spiritual food, then we must first acknowledge that we are first flesh, with all the physical needs of physical food and clothing which are required for the maintenance of the daily life of the flesh. In other words, if you are still eating physical food, needing physical housing and breathing physical air, then you need to make certain that your physical wife and children receive the same.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

If we are “one flesh” with our wives, then we will act like it and “Nourish and cherish our wives, even as the Lord the church.”
Christ is still living in “earthen vessels” as He lives in our physical bodies. That is what Paul means when he tells us that Christ’s afflictions are not yet completed.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

That is why we are told that “we are His flesh and His bones.” It not only says ‘We are the same spirit,’ but it also says “We are of His flesh and of His bones.” No man hates his own flesh, but nourishes it, as he should. Yes, “This is a great mystery concerning Christ and the church.” Does that spiritual statement mean that we should forsake our physical spouses because this is a spiritual mystery? What does the very next verse say?

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

In other words, when we are able to give up breathing physical air and eating physical food, only then will we be ready to dispense with the physical needs of food and shelter for our wife and children.
Now let’s examine this statement you make:

Yes, of course, you are right, we do have to dig for the deep waters of life, as did Abraham and Isaac. That is the spiritual truths we are to feed our families, but if  you know someone who “is called a brother” who eats but does not work, then you and that brother are sitting in a modern day “church at Corinth,” and this is what we know of that church:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carna l, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Look at your statement. You twice quoted the word of God, which says “if a man does not work he shall not eat… if any provide not for his own… he is worse than an infidel,” and then you say, “again that is just not true.” It is not my intent to offend, but to instruct, and I am certain that you do not want to be in a position of fighting against God and saying that His Word is a lie. What you and I both want is only to know the truth of what is meant by this verse:

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Below is a verse which I hope will bring us together in our understanding of 1Ti 5:8.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

I have emboldened the parts we seem to overlook. “The world… and death,” those are ours also. Yes, it all ends in life, but in the meantime, while we are yet in these vessels of clay, “all things are yours” and mine. Not just good spiritual things but “death and the world” are also ours.

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels,” and ‘earthen vessels’ require physical food and shelter. It is a sin and a blaspheming of God, for “anyone who is called a brother,” to place on the backs of others in the body of Christ, the responsibility for the food and shelter of his wife and children when that brother is able to work and to provide for his own flesh. Paul’s words, the words of the holy spirit, do not “judge those things which are without, but they do indeed “judge those that are within.”

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

So we must all come to understand that “the sum of God’s Word is Truth,” and that we must “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

Doctrine is never to be established upon one isolated verse of God’s Word, but on its sum.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
 2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [ them that are] weaned from the milk, [ and] drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

In other words,”the natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit for they are foolishness to him.”

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

No, you and I did not literally kill Cain or Christ, but the ‘Adam’ in those who did is the same Adam in you and me. It is in that sense that we are all guilty of “the blood of all the righteous men from Abel to Zachariah.”

Mat 23:34 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:
Mat 23:35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Luk 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and some of them they shall kill and persecute;
Luk 11:50 that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk 11:51 from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.

Once we accept those verses as true and that “ all things are ours,” then we can begin to understand that everything in the first Adam is in our flesh, and the only reason we don’t actually live it all out, is because the hand of God is “working all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11), and it is simply not in His will that we all be utterly depraved, but it is in His will that we all provide for our own household as He works that in us, if we are truly brothers in Christ and not just “called a brother.”
What this means is that we must all learn first, if God wills, to provide for those physical needs without being a burden on those who are also in bodies of flesh around us. This will always involve a time of humiliation when we will fail to provide for our own. Being humbled is a most necessary part of our experience in these bodies of clay:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

What this verse tells us is that if God gives us an admonition against doing evil or an admonition to do any particular good, He does so as a prophecy that we will not do the good and we will do the evil. If God says, “thou shalt not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” then  He told us that because He already knew that is exactly what He had “written in His book” that we would do. If on the other hand He tells us to “love Him with our whole heart,” then He said that because He already had it “written in His book” that we would serve other Gods, our idols, first. That is the very meaning of “living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” and “keeping the things written therein.”

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. (ASV)
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Then, as we repent of these sins, including failing to provide for our families as we ought, and we begin to demonstrate that Christ really is in us, as He performs through us that part of our walk, and we live the fiery trials of providing food and shelter for our own families who are the fruit of our own body, and for our wife who is “one flesh” with us; then if God is merciful, He may grant you and me to be found worthy to share with others the things of the spirit.

Rom 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

Paul knew and wrote to us that he was only part of the body of Christ, and that every part of that body was vital to its proper functioning. But he too, was first a sinner, then repented and was then given to feed the Lord’s flock.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is [ the] Christ.
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [ thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

But do not mention the name of Christ to others or to your own family if your family and your children are having to be supported by others, while you refuse to sacrifice your physical life and time in order to perform physical labor needed to provide for the physical needs of those physical people who God Himself has given you and whose physical needs He has placed in your physical charge and care.
You say that I said, and I quote”

I do not for one moment think you have done so deliberately, but you have completely misunderstood  what I have said about preaching the gospel. If you can show me anywhere I have ever written that ” Peter and the disciples all continued to take care of their businesses‘ I will repent of ever having said that, and I will thank you for bring that bit of heresy to my attention. I do not believe you will find that anywhere because I do not believe that, nor do I believe I have ever written such a thing. What I did say was that all of God’s true ministers have always provided for the needs of their wives and families, and to fail to do so would make them “worse than an infidel.” I have never as far as I can recall, said “Peter and the disciples all continued to take care of their businesses.” God does not allow His children to go hungry, either physically or spiritually, and neither do His disciples.

Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

The “bleating of the sheep” as you put it, like all things, is both spiritual and physical. It is a lost sheep that bleats, and that is who Christ is seeking. You will not be given the opportunity of God, to “feed my [ bleating] lambs” or to “feed my sheep” spiritually, if you have refused to do so physically. God’s sheep and His lambs are bleating, both to be found and to be fed, both spiritually and physically, and we will never be used to “feed My Lambs” spiritually, if we have not first done so physically. No, I am not saying that you cannot serve God if you do not marry and have a family first. What I am saying, and what the scriptures teach is that if God has given you a family, then these words are for you and for me, and they are true

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I am very well aware of what seems to be the ‘catch 22’ position in which we live. That is what “the trial of our faith” is all about. We are told on the one hand, to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added.” At the very same time we are told that if we do not provide for the physical needs of our families, we have “denied the faith and are worse than an infidel.” But providing for the physical needs of our physical families is “seeking first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” as long as our children are so young that they need the physical support of a physical mother and a physical father. What utter hypocrisy it would be to leave our wives and children to be supported by others, while we claim to be feeding God’s lambs and His sheep. So we are told:

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Jas 1:2 My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble.
Jas 1:3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested.
Jas 1:4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. (CEV)
2Co 4:17 These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.
2Co 4:18 Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen. (CEV)
Rom 8:28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,
Rom 8:32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?

… and again:

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Are these all spiritually true statements? Of course they are. Is it not also true physically? It certainly is! When we have “a lot of trouble” or when we are “enduring a test,” it is always connected to this physical realm in which we live. Our spiritual growth is through struggles in this physical realm. We ought not to go out into this world talking about our dedication to serving God when we are demonstrating to the world that we aren’t even dedicated to our own physical wife and children who were first given into your care by God Himself.

1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his [ physical] brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath [ physically] seen, cannot love God whom he hath not [ physically] seen

If that is true for a physical brother, how much more true is it for one’s wife and children?

Now let’s go back to 1Co 5, and see how we are instructed to deal with “any man who is called a brother” but who is not setting a proper example in the physical realm. What Paul is dealing with in 1Co 5 is the same self- centered spirit he is dealing with in 1Ti 5. In both cases the offender thinks that the outward appearance is of no consequence to God. But in both cases the offender is wrong, and outward appearances do have an affect upon how the world perceives those who claim to be speaking in the name of, and for Christ. Yes, God looks on the heart, but He also sees what that ‘heart’ produces in the living out of what is in the heart. And so we are admonished:

Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

That is an admonition to be careful to never appear to bring a reproach upon the name of Christ. Much of this chapter of Rom 14, concerns itself with how the physical things we do are perceived by those who are around us and are observing our physical walk in these vessels of clay we call our bodies of flesh.
1Co 5 is the chapter concerning a physical fornicator who was in the midst of the physical Corinthian congregation. He had taken the wife of his father and was physically living with her. Being worded as it is “his father’s wife,” this is apparently this man’s step- mother. Neither this man nor others in the congregation, considered this to be an act of any real consequence to God. This man had professed to believe in Christ, and that was enough for most of those who made up that congregation there in Corinth at that time. Instead of any display of righteous indignation at such a self- centered action, and instead of pointing out the hypocrisy this man’s physical life was demonstrating to the whole world, the Corinthian congregation was content to just willingly tolerate these despicable physical actions. Instead of feeling shame and humiliation for what was taking place in their very midst, they were actually “puffed up,” and proud of their open mindedness and tolerance.

1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Is this a spiritual situation or is it a physical situation? The obvious truth is that it is both!!! Is the spiritual lesson the primary lesson? Of course it is. The spiritual lesson is that none of us ought ever to allow spiritual fornication or false doctrine into our spiritual house.

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

But does it follow that since we ought never to permit spiritual fornication, that therefore physical fornication is not even worthy of our consideration? Absolutely not! What takes place within our physical families and within our physical congregations must be a reflection of what we teach spiritually or else we are seen for the hypocrites we are. When we tell others to be spiritually pure while we are defiled both within and without, we are “blaspheming the name of God among the heathen.” What are we to do when “any man that is called a brother” brings such a doctrine into our midst? Here is what the holy spirit tells us to do when a person’s outward actions do not match his claim of being a spiritual brother in Christ:

1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Do you see how the holy spirit connects the actions of the flesh with the condition of the spirit?

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

This is all being said in the context of a physical man committing physical fornication in the presence of the physical Corinthian congregation. Physical fornication begets spiritual fornication.

1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

I didn’t say that you cannot have spiritual fornication without physical fornication. There are many false prophets who are apparently dedicated husbands and wives. What I said was you cannot have outward physical fornication without also having spiritual fornication. You cannot live in the “works of the flesh” and produce the fruit of the spirit.

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Paul is not anticipating this man’s physica l demise when he calls for “the destruction of the flesh.” He is anticipating the demise of the evil spirit that is causing his flesh to live in spiritual death. When Paul talks about the destruction of the flesh here, he refers to the destruction of the works of the flesh:

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

So “the [ outward] works of the flesh” are both physical and spiritual sin which will rob us of “inheriting the kingdom of God.”
Now let’s consider the remainder of your thought on this subject. We will continue where you left off supposedly quoting me:

Once again you have missed what was actually said. I do not believe that I ever said that “the disciples continued to take care of their businesses,” and Christ certainly never said “one should not worry about the outside of the cup.” Here is what he actually said about the outside of the cup:

Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Why does Christ want us to be clean first on the inside? Where does He say “One should not worry about the outside?” Quite obviously it is not there to be found. Quite to the contrary, what He actually said was that we ought to clean the inside first so “that the outside may be clean also.” This is consistent with:

Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

It is also consistent with:

1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this [ physical] deed might be taken away from among you.

You said:

You are definitely on to something here, but it’s not what you are thinking. To begin with, it is interesting that this just happens to be the whole first half of Mark ten:

Mar 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [ his] wife? tempting him.
Mar 10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
Mar 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put [ her] away.
Mar 10:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
Mar 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Mar 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Mar 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mar 10:10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same [ matter].
Mar 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
Mar 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

I said you were on to something and you are, because you say:

We are not being asked to break the commandment of the first half of this chapter in order to keep this commandment in the last half. That is not what the sum of God’s word produces. Our wives and children are not “the world” being spoken of in this verse.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things [ that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We are not “loving the world” when we love and cleave to our wives as Christ has just admonished us to do in this very chapter:

Mar 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

We prove our love to God when we love our wives:

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Here are the verses in Mar 10 which you reference:

Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

We have already demonstrated that Peter had not given up his wife or his house. The taxes were still paid and his wife and mother- in- law were fed and sheltered. So who are these “houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, who the disciples had forsaken for Christ’s sake, and the gospel’s?”
The father we give up is “Your father the devil, the mother we given up is “that great harlot who reigns over the kings of our earth,” and of course we are “hated of all men” who comprise our brothers and sisters in Babylon. But we do not forsake and abandon to others our faithful wives and our dependent and loving children who God has place in our charge.
Now let’s consider what is the spiritual consequences of not physically feeding, sheltering and clothing those who God has placed into our physical charge via the physical institution of marriage and the family. Here again are the verses you reference:

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

We have already conceded that this is indeed a spiritual mystery. But we also saw that Paul, inspired of the holy spirit also said, “Nevertheless…” (Eph 5:33) the physical should reflect the spiritual if Christ really is living His life of selflessness in us. Just look at these verses:

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2Th 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
2Th 3:8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
2Th 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
2Th 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

There it all is. “If any man… does not with quietness… work and eat his own bread” we are commanded to “have no company with him, that he may be ashamed”. He is not an enemy, but we are to admonish him as a brother.
Now it is obvious that “Love your Father and your mother” is primarily a spiritual statement concerning our heavenly Father. But do not these verses concerning our physical families bear out that love of our heavenly Father?

1Ti 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a fathe r; and the younger men as brethren;
1Ti 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
1Ti 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
1Ti 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
1Ti 5:7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

God has, through the pen of the apostle, given this charge to us all. We are all to be careful never to rebuke an older person. We are to treat our elders “as a father, and younger men as brothers.” We ought never to rebuke an older woman. We ought always to treat older women as our mothers, and young women as sisters. Physical family members within the body of Christ, ought to be responsible for their physical relatives. The physical sons and nephews ought to be the first to attend to the physical needs of their elders. “Let them learn first, to show piety [ in their physical] home, and to requite their [ physical] parents; because that is good and acceptable before God.”
Those in the body of Christ, who have no such physical support are “widows indeed,’ and will be provided for by the God in whom she trusts, and by those in whom our God dwells.

1Ti 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

There is one final admonition that needs to be given against saying that we are all in the spiritual body of Christ and therefore need not concern ourselves with our physical surroundings. Those who have little regard for how their teachings contradict the doctrines of the apostles concerning our walk in this physical realm, often subscribe to  the teaching that “the resurrection is past already.” This teaching is what is called the “fullness now” doctrine. This doctrine teaches that we can be perfected while yet in these bodies of clay and dust. Such is not the case. We are “sealed with the holy spirit of promise.” But that seal remains a “spirit of promise… until the redemption of the purchased possession,” meaning, until the resurrection of the dead.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [ even] in him:

“The dispensation of the fulness of times” is not yet come. If it were here, we would not be waiting for the “promise.” Instead we are “accepted in Christ” and are therefore “sealed with the holy spirit of promise” as we are here told:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

“Earnest” means ‘downpayment.” We have the downpayment of the spirit “ until the redemption of the purchased possession…” We are being saved and we are “saved by hope.” But you do not hope for that which you already have:

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [“The redemption of the purchased possession,” the resurrection from the dead.]
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

We do not “wait patiently” for what we already have. “He that endureth to the end SHALL be saved.”

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all [ men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Paul, and all of God’s apostles, considered themselves to be God’s very elect and they all used the personal pronouns ‘we,’ and ‘us’ when speaking of God’s elect. At the same time, they all agreed that salvation is an ongoing, “dying daily… enduring to the end” process, which is “perfected on the third day,” the day of resurrection from the dead.

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 

We have ‘resurrection’ in “earnest of the spirit,” which means in down payment form. The resurrection is not passed, and we are yet clay and sinful flesh, which cannot inherit the kingdom of God because it is yet corruptible.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

It is true that any and all who deny that Christ is come in our bodies of flesh, just as He came in His own body of flesh, is “that spirit of Antichrist.

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Christ is not just a man who lived 2000 years ago. He is in our bodies of sinful flesh, and we are in Him. It is true that Christ considers us to be Himself. Those are His own words to Saul of Tarsus, and to the apostle John:

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

We have no record of Saul of Tarsus ever personally meeting Christ while Christ was in a body of flesh and blood. Yet Christ tells us that Saul of Tarsus was persecuting Christ Himself. “Why persecutest thou me?” That is why the apostle John tells us:

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Which means that a verse, earlier in this same chapter, and quoted above, is talking of the very same thing. It is speaking of Christ in us, not just in His own body of flesh while He was on this earth. Here again is that verse.

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

This is all very Biblical, but it in no way denies that “The sum of thy word is truth” (Psa 119:160) which teaches that we now possess only the down payment of all of these things, and that we still “wait” and are “in hope of the resurrection from among the dead.” Until that blessed day we follow in the steps of Christ and His apostles when they were in the flesh. It was “in the flesh” that Christ provided food and shelter for His own disciples and for their families. Am I “thinking above what is written? Absolutely not! As we will see, some of Christ’s followers owned homes and supported families
Am I denying that anyone can be a full time minister? No, I am not. Christ never returned to being a carpenter once His ministry began. But as pointed out earlier, full time ministry and “forsaking all for Christ” does not mean that we do not provide food, clothing and shelter for the families given us by our Creator. The scriptures reveal that Christ and his disciples were at least partially funded by certain women “of substance” whose names are given in the gospel of Luke. Then it adds “… and many others” supported our Lord and His twelve disciples.

Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

“Mary, Joanna… and Susanna, and many others… ministered unto Him of their substance.” But we have not one instance of Christ, “taking up an offering” of the people to whom He ministered, and He would never have dreamed of taking tithes of anyone, simply because all tithes were to go to the priests and the Levites, for the ministry of the temple, and the work of the Levites. While yet in a body of flesh, Christ was completely unqualified to be either a physical priest or a Levite, serving in the physical temple.

Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

So none of the apostles, who were all Jews, had any intention of every asking anyone for tithes to finance their ministry.

Peter and all the other 11 apostles, were as carnal as the day is long until the day of Pentecost, and one day while following Christ all of His disciples had argued among themselves which of them would be the greatest when Christ set up His kingdom on this earth. They truly believed that this “follow me” commission they had received from this great teacher and miraculous healer would one day pay great dividends. Here are the three accounts of this same incident:

Mat 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mar 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Mar 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Mar 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
Mar 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Luk 9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
 Luk 9:47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Luk 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

With that in mind, here are some of those who are to be “first and chiefest and greatest in the kingdom of God.” Here are some of the greatest supporters Christ had.

Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
Mar 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mar 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) a nd many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

“For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”

Peter at a later time, after Christ had made that statement, as was his style, was very blunt and pointed out to Christ that he and all of the 12, had “forsaken all to follow Christ,” and he wanted to know just what was in it for them all?

Mat 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Now this gives us an insight into what “forsaking all to follow Christ” means. because Peter still owned a house and still supported his family.

Mat 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Phillip also, many years later, still owned a house:

Act 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

So Peter was providing for his own house and for his mother- in- law, and Philip was providing shelter for Paul’s entire entourage. Both had “forsaken all to follow Christ, yet neither had failed to “provide for they of his own house.” Neither had “denied the faith,” neither was “worse than an infidel.”
But the gospels are not the sum of God’s word concerning how Christ intends that the ministry of His gospel is to be financed. What comes later in the various epistles of Paul is inspired by the same “holy spirit of God,” which “holy spirit of God” also inspired the writing of the gospels. So what Paul says in His epistles concerning the way in which his ministry was financed, is not to be understood as contradicting what the spirit reveals concerning the way Christ’s ministry was financed. Both are true, and it is the sum of both which reveals to us what is the truth from the mind of God concerning the financing of the ministry of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Let me give you an example of what I mean by “the sum of God’s Word”, before we examine what the spirit led the apostle Paul to write concerning how Paul’s ministry was financed.
If I were to meet my son Wayne this coming Saturday morning, at 8 A. M. and I told him, ‘Wayne I am going south to Buford this morning, is there anything I can do for you while I am in Buford?’ Then my son Dallas calls me that evening and tells me that He came by my house at three in the afternoon, and found that I was not at home. Now if I tell Dallas that I had gone north to Gainesville to take care of some business, at that time, and that is where I was when he came by, am I therefore lying to Wayne about where I was going when I talked with Wayne? Or was I lying to Dallas about where I had been when He came over? Was I in Buford, or had I been to Gainesville that day? Well, obviously both are true. I had gone to Buford in the morning, took care of my business there, and then I went to Gainesville later that afternoon. There is no contradiction in my speech and the truth is to be known in its sum. It is completely uncalled for, and it is completely counter productive, to attempt to make me out of be a liar if I mention to Wayne only that part of my day which concerns him and then mention to Dallas only that part of my day which concerns my conversation with Dallas.
So it is with the sum of God’s Words. When God told Moses, right there on Mount Sinai, that he would later raise up a prophet who would be a reformer just like Moses, then Moses   words might very well be expected to mean that Christ also was to be a reformer, as was Moses, and that Christ’s ministry would be a complete “time of reformation… a change also of the law.”

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
 Heb 9:10 Which [ temple rituals] stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

So while “offerings of the firstborn of the cattle and flocks” and “the offerings of firstfruits of the increase of the field,” and “the tithes of the increase of the land,” and the temple tax, were all used to finance and support the functions of the Old Testament temple and the Aaronic priesthood, there is not one verse of scripture which indicates that any of these means was used to finance the New Testament church. Rather there was “a change of the priesthood and a change also of the law,” when Christ came along and brought in His “time of reformation.” That “time of reformation” also completely reformed the manner in which the New Testament “Israel of God… the body of Christ… was to be financed. Here is what we are told.

2Co 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
2Co 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
2Co 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
1Th 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
1Th 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2Th 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
2Th 3:8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
2Th 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

There it is again:

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Paul mentions a “disorderly walk” three times, and says that “there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all…”
What should such a person do? Should he forsake all and follow Christ? Of course he should. But how does Paul tell him to do that? Here is what say the scriptures say is forsaking all and following Christ, for the average person in God’s flock who is not called to be a preacher or a teacher, but who is called to “forsake all” and to be a vital part of the body of Christ:

2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

What we do always speaks much louder than what we say. In first and second Corinthians, and in first and second Thessalonians, Paul repeats time after time that he “labored with His own hands,” to minister to his own needs and to the needs of those who were with him. He uses the phrase “that I would not be chargeable to you” time after time. He makes this exact same point when talking to the elders of the church at Ephesus.

Act 20:33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Act 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Having said all of that, it is clear that there is such a thing in scripture as ‘full time ministry.’ But ‘full time ministry’ does not mean that one can never do anything but ministry. As Paul said:

Act 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Yet it would be utter heresy to teach that it is wrong to accept support from those upon whose hearts Christ has placed a desire to give in support of the sharing and spreading of the gospel. While telling both the Corinthians and the Thessalonians that he did not want to “be chargeable” to them, Paul makes this statement:

2Co 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
 2Co 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

This to is a part of “the sum of God’s word” on this subject:

1Co 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

There is your apparent premise. What is the sum of God’s Word after the holy spirit has the apostle Paul to pose this question? Let’s continue:

1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 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?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he [ it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [ this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [ is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Co 9:12 If others be partakers of [ this] power over you, [ are] not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Co 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [ of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for [ it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

What is “the sum of God’s word concerning how His ministers are supported? There it is. There are all the verses which show that while God has “ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel,” yet no one who trembles at the word of God, fails to not that the final revelation on this subject is:

2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
 2Co 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

What is the holy spirit by the apostle Paul telling us? Is the holy spirit, here in these plain words of scripture teaching a “have a need, plant a seed” prosperity gospel? Is the holy spirit, here teaching that “‘Abraham was very rich in gold and in silver’ and that therefore you too, should be rich?”  Or is the apostle Paul not doing exactly what Christ did, and receiving  support only from those upon whose hearts the spirit had laid the desire to assist him in the work which the spirit had given him?

2Co 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [ things] I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [ so] will I keep [ myself].
Php 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

‘Ministry’ is done in many ways and forms. Women, in scripture, are forbidden to be preachers and teachers over congregations, and most men simply are not called to be preachers or teachers. Yet we are all called to be ministers and servants of God as a vital part of the body of Christ. That is how the ministry and all of the ministers of the New Testament were supported. There is not so much as one example in all of the New Testament of any of the ministers of Christ ever demanding tithes of their congregations. There is not even one example of an offering ever being taken up for the support of the ministers of the gospel of this New Testament church. The support of the ministers of the New Testament is accomplished as a body, and that body has a head, and that head is Christ, and Christ, alone. It is Christ who through the agency of His spirit places it upon the hearts and minds of so many to do so much good for their fellow man in His name. Yes, even as they teach doctrine which are contrary to Him and His name. Either we believe that He Babylon, with all of its false teachings concerning tithes and offerings is the working of all by God for good. God “is working all things after the counsel of His own will” as the scriptures teach. Either we believe those words or else we do not believe them.
Peter’s mother- in- law ministered to Christ when Christ healed her of her fever. When that was done, what are we told she immediately did?

Mat 8:15 And he Christ touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

No doubt some sisters in Christ will contend that Peter’s mother- in- law got up off of her sick bed and began preaching to Christ and the apostles. Such a thought is absurd in light of every word of the doctrine of Christ in the New Testament on the role of women in the body of Christ. (Read the paper entitled The Head of Christ Is God) In all likelihood Peter’s mother would have considered it a great honor to be counted worthy to wash the feet of Christ as Mary, the sister of Lazarus, did at a later date. Or she might have cooked Christ and His disciples a meal, or done anything that might make an honored guest feel more comfortable in her home. That is as much a part of the ministry of the body of Christ as is the gospel itself, because that is an essential part of the gospel. So the spirit and mind of Christ, which is in the hearts of all of those who tremble at the word of God is this:

Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Mar 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

You say:

Do you not see how you talk about the spiritual, but when you speak of forsaking your wife and family it becomes literal? Then you seem to be saying that even after forsaking your wife and family, your wife is still to submit to you “and trust God for everything else”.
We have covered the outside of the cup, and now we have covered the wife we are to forsake for Christ. It is definitely not the wife and husband which “God has joined together” as Christ Himself told us in the first part of this very same chapter.
Paul like Christ, never once demanded that the men of the church leave their wives. Not even the unbelieving wives:

1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Getting back to what is revealed about the attitude of the apostles toward the subject of the support of the gospel, it is an incredible truth that Paul, no any of the apostles of the New Testament, ever once demanded money of anyone. Here is what they did do:

2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

By “robbed” Paul certainly does not mean extorted. He is simply saying that the support he received was completely by the moving of God’s spirit. It was a matter only of “giving.”

Php 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Paul goes on to say that the church in Macedonia supplied his needs so that He was “not chargeable” to the churches in Corinth or Thessalonica.

2Co 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [ things] I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [ so] will I keep [ myself].
Php 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Here is another insight into what Paul considered “forsaking all to follow Christ:”

Act 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought [ made tents]: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

For what did Paul work? It’s in the very next verse:

Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

I hope all of this serves to make it clear that we are to provide, as best God has predestined us, for the physical needs of our “own flesh.” We and our wives are said to be “one flesh,” and we and Christ are said to be “of His flesh and of His bones.” Is that a spiritual statement? Of course it is! “Nevertheless [ even though these are spiritual truths] let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself…”

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The husband who “is called a brother” and who physically loves and physically provides for His wife, is a proper example of just how much he loves and obeys his spiritual Father.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

A wife who shows reverence towards her husband shows just how much she fears and obeys her spiritual Father.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Not everyone can break away from corporate America and the corporate world. Those in whom the spirit of the true Christ dwells, who can and are led of God to break away from the corporate world, will never look down on those who cannot and are not gifted to do so.
I hope this helps you to see that very few are called to be teachers and preachers, and most of God’s people are called to “forsake all and follow Christ,” by “working with quietness and eating their own bread,” and that the “house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,” is the house of our father the devil, our mother that great harlot, and our brothers and sisters who we lose when they all begin to hate us. That is “the world” we are to “forsake for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s.”

Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31 But many [ that are] first shall be last; and the last first.
2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

If God supplies the means for some to spend their lives in His ministry, that is just wonderful. But it is still the fullest and final revelation of the sum of His word that God’s ministers “work with their hands” when the need arises, to set an example to others that ministry is to be for giving and not for receiving:

Act 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
2Th 3:8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
2Th 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

I pray that I am fool enough to follow these admonitions of the holy spirit. I also hope you now see that regardless of how much or how little of our time is spent in ministry, we are all commanded of Christ to “provide for those of our own household, or we are worse than an infidel,” and that it is in keeping these words that we truly do “forsake all for Christ.”

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Other related posts