When it comes to missions ministry or serving in missions... it comes to my thought, not everybody understands the concept of missions, at times even professing Christians do not understand. Well, perhaps because there are those who have destroyed the image or the concept of what missions is all about. Within so called "churches" or "christian group" there are those who have defiled the true meaning of "Christianity" or "Church" or "ministry".. Just watching some documentary videos about Christianity of today can prove what I'm saying... Other reasons why Christians do not understand, is that they may have never heard nor have not even experienced what missions is all about.... Usually, if I'm not mistaken, church members are just encouraged to simply give to missions, never to understand what really is the heart of missions... Don't get me wrong... I'm not saying giving is wrong... I'm just saying, most often, we forgot something when it comes to missions.... Let me first give you these verses to remind or to study:
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20)
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:36-38)
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
"[On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:14 Amplified Bible)
"Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]." (Galatians 6:6, Amplified Bible)
"Other churches I have robbed by accepting [more than their share of] support for my ministry [from them in order] to serve you. And when I was with you and ran short financially, I did not burden any [of you], for what I lacked was abundantly made up by the brethren who came from Macedonia. So I kept myself from being burdensome to you in any way, and will continue to keep [myself from being so]. As the truth of Christ is in me, this my boast [of independence] shall not be debarred (silenced or checked) in the regions of Achaia (most of Greece)." (2 Corinthians 11:8-10, Amplified Bible)
"Indeed, the signs that indicate a [genuine] apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty works. For in what respect were you put to a disadvantage in comparison with the rest of the churches, unless [it was for the fact] that I myself did not burden you [with my financial support]? Pardon me [for doing you] this injustice! Now for the third time I am ready to come to [visit] you. And I will not burden you [financially], for it is not your [money] that I want but you; for children are not duty bound to lay up store for their parents, but parents for their children." (2 Corinthians 12:12-14, Amplified Bible)
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
More verses to read & study: Luke 21:1-4, Mark 12:41-44
Well, I have placed verses and verses, practically talking about two things, or more than two things... But I hope we would see that when it comes to missions, missions pertaining to the task of sharing the gospel to them that needs to hear it... the number one thing Christ Jesus had in mind are ... what? Money? No, it is not but laborers... people who will labor for and with Him... Apostle Paul is one example who had answered that call.... and looking at the verses on 2 Corinthians 12:12-14 and 2 Corinthians 11:8-10, if I may ask, was apostle Paul mindful of his financial support or his needs? No, he was mindful of the people who needs to hear the gospel and God's Words... In fact, he didn't want to be a burdensome to the people whom he is ministering to... That's why I believe, he did also support himself with tentmaking (Acts 18:3).
But we do have to understand as well that indeed the responsibility of the church is also to really help or feed their workers, their pastors (1 Corinthians 9:14, Galatians 6:6). As pastors or God's laborers feed God's people with God's Words, so should God's people provide their pastors their needs. It is a mutual responsibility, not because I said so, or somebody said so... but because God says so! Anyway, if we are to really go to the root of this kind of responsibility, it is as simple as what God commands, love thy neighbor as thyself. And if we go further, we find the principle and God's character that GOD IS LOVE! Therefore, in its simplest understanding, if we the church do not do our responsibility in taking care of our pastors or laborers in the Word, are we not believing that God is Love and that we are simply saying or portraying that God's Love is not in us? Of course, this principle is not something that should force us to do our responsibility of giving.... God is not actually interested in that. But God is most interested IS OUR HEARTS!
Try reading Luke 21:1-4 or Mark 12:41-44. Jesus wasn't interested in how much a person gives, but how the person gives. The "how" is actually the status or state of the heart, whether the heart is fully given to God or not.. Romans 12:1-2 greatly emphasizes a life given fully to God or in other words our heart, our will, the whole of us fully given and offered to God and letting God use it for His glory and honor. Such is what God desires, though He doesn't force us to be of such. Apostle Paul, even begs, pleads that we called as "Christians" do so... because if we don't, then perhaps we ought to ask ourselves, are we truly of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we indeed followers and believers of Christ? Do we really meant Jesus being our Lord (Master) and our Savior?
You see, I believe, when it comes to the missions or not only missions but even on the Christian realm, we so called Christians ought to be giving our life first. Letting our hearts be in accordance to the Will of God. And that is not only for pastors, laborers of the Lord or anyone special, but all those who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! And if we give our all, our life..... then everything else follows... even with just the principle of "giving"....
Let me illustrate it in a practical life example.... supposed one professional person goes on a mission outreach and helps in that mission outreach, experiencing and seeing the needs of the people, being able to understand their physical needs and that person goes back to his home church. Then he has another professional friend, who is richer than him, of whom he shared his mission outreach experience. Then here comes the opportunity to give through their church regular offering, who would you think would give more? To whom would you think will the Lord say .. "for a truth! this man has given much more than the other"?
Simple principle of God is, "Give first your heart to Him, and He will use it mightily for His glory and honor and surely, whatever you do, it will be in accordance to the Will of the Father." (read Psalm 37:4)
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