D. Scott Meadows

Galatians 6.6: Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

We come now to the last rule of love in the church in our sermon text today, and I must treat it briefly for time’s sake. Considering what it is, perhaps that is just as well. Pay the preacher! Look at verse six, please.

Pay the Preacher (6)

I am oversimplifying, of course, but this is the gist of the exhortation. “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” Paul does not elaborate on what he means here, but there is an extended discussion elsewhere in the New Testament about how and why it is proper to compensate financially men who give themselves to preaching the gospel and serving the church in a pastoral ministry. That discussion is found especially in 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul sums up the general principle in verse 14. “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” He is saying basically the same thing here in Galatians 6. Two parties are mentioned, those who are taught in the word, and him who teaches them. The exhortation falls especially upon the former. They are to “communicate” or “share” with their Bible teacher “in all good things.”

This has an implicit logic and justice in it. Since the pastor-teacher is devoted to their spiritual good and for this reason is distracted from earning his living in some other way, then those who benefit from his devoted labors are indebted to repay him as they can with other good things (not just spiritual), and material compensation is certainly in view. Paul argues this way in 1 Corinthians 9. “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?” (NKJV). It’s a rhetorical question that demands the answer, “no, it is no great thing—no big deal or nothing improper—if we spiritual seed-sowers reap your material things from you.”

In other words, another simple rule of love in the church is that the congregation which benefits from the pastoral labors of a man or men over them in the Lord should support him or them financially. I am grateful to serve in a congregation which has been faithful in this duty.

We must not think of love in sentimental terms but rather in its very practical, tangible expressions. Love in the church suggests some simple rules we ought to keep faithfully at all times. Let us put up with each other. Let each of us get over himself or herself and repent more and more of our sinful pride. Let each concentrate on being godly ourselves more than trying to fix one another. And yes, keep paying the preacher. These are important aspects of what love in the local church looks like. May God help us to love one another in these ways. Amen.

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