A hard-working minister is an example

He set an example of hard work. Look at 1 Thessalonians 2:9: For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil. We worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. Now, one thing that was going on there is that Paul was aware that false charges would be made—that he was just enriching himself, he wanted their money, he wanted the prestige, he wanted glory, and it was all about him. And he did not want that to happen. And so one of the things that Paul did was he refused to allow the church he was starting to provide him financial support. Because they were new converts, he did not want them to be clouded by that. By the way, that principle is generally followed in our church. If you join our church—if you come here—the first thing we do not do is talk to you about money. Christians should be giving; you should be tithing. But that is not what I am telling you right now. That is not what we are here for. We are here to minister the grace of God. He will provide through his people.

That is what happened to Paul. In fact, when Paul was in Corinth, the Thessalonians were funding him. When he was in Thessalonica, the Philippians were funding him. And then, when they were not able to do that, he tells us that he was willing to work hard with his own hands. And we learn in Acts 18:3 that Paul had a trade. His trade was tentmaking. That was very hard work. He had to work night and day. So you see Paul working from nine to twelve, and he has got a preaching appointment from twelve to one, then he goes back to work for three hours, then he has an appointment with someone at four. It is not the best way to minister, but if he has to do it, he will do it. Then he goes back to work, and he probably works on his sermon while he is trying to get some sleep. It is not the best way, by the way. That is why that is not the pattern given to the church. Very few pastors today will be—and should be—tentmakers, for the very reason that they can not do much else. They can not devote themselves to their ministry. They are distracted. The normal practice ought to be that the church generously provides for those called to full-time labour. And yet, Paul wanted them to know that they saw in him an example. He was committed to the gospel. He was fervent, and he was willing to work hard—labour and toil, strain and demanding effort. He did not shrink from it.

Now I just said that tentmaking is not the practice the Bible commands. In fact, when Paul was able not to do it, he was glad to do it. But let me say this: that a church that is giving money to pay for its pastor has the right to see the pastor working hard and should see the ministers in the church engaging in strenuous labour for the spiritual well-being of the people—not shrinking from personal pains. We are only men. There is only so much we can do. We are going to let you down. But you ought to be able to see that that guy is laying his life out for my spiritual well-being and for the sake of the church. A lazy clergy is a disgrace to the church and should be a distress to the people of God. The church should be able to see an example of pain and labour and toil and hard work in the gospel.¹

Richard D. Phillips