1 Thessalonians 2:9
9 For [gar] ye remember, [mnemoneuo] brethren, [adelphos] our [hemon] labour
[kopos] and [kai] travail: [mochthos] for [gar] labouring [ergazomai] night [nux] and [kai] day, [hemera] because [pros] we would [epibareo] not [me] be chargeable [epibareo] unto any [tis] of you, [humon] we preached [kerusso] unto [eis] you [humas] the gospel [euaggelion] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
9 For
you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as
not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. NASB
God has provided Bible doctrine
to every human being, throughout history, and not as an added burden on anyones life, but as a benefit.
There are many schemers
out there who will try with all their might, to squeeze every penny out of you,
in order to help themselves, at your expense, while giving you empty promises. They presume that the masses will be foolish
enough to believe their words and more than happy to make them (the schemers)
rich in the process.
This is not limited to
wandering tent promoters, but actually in more prevalent in the large organized
religions.To them, God is a business,
their business, and you are their revenue.
This only places a
burden on those who seek spiritual support for their miseries, but gain only
more burdens from unfaithful and misleading religious leaders.
Nearly everyone seeking
God, does so out of need. To be taken advantage of by con artists, even
con artists in fancy robes with fancy titles, and fancy words, is true cruelty
by those would be authorities of the Word.
The priests of ancient
times took advantage of this process, making life miserable for people, because
of the burdens placed on them by the volumes of religious rules and
regulations.
But Paul lets everyone know
that his ministry is not intended to become a burden on anyone. There is no obligation demanded of people to
support Paul or anyone teaching doctrine.
Actually most folks do not have the means of support. Life is tough enough just surviving from one
day to the next.
However, do not be
misled in thinking that you are without responsibility. The desire to help the promotion of Bible
teaching comes from within your soul.And
when that desire truly manifests itself within your beliefs and desires, then
that motivation, which is voluntary, will be met by God with some means
presented to you, for fulfilling your desire to help.
Your obligation is first
to spiritual growth, and through growth you will learn your mature responsibilities,
and you will want to fulfill them not through coercion, not through guilt, but
through love of the Word, and your being granted at
small opportunity to participate in Gods vast plan.
Those who give because
they have the means, generally have ulterior motives
(guilt, tax write-off, some financial benefit) for their giving, and giving
nothing would be far better for them, than giving through false pretenses.
If a Bible study is
worth its salt, then God will provide the means to support it. If a Bible study is not worth its salt, or
there are simply no or few hearers, then God may very well remove it.
In Noah s day, God
removed the few hearers through the Ark.
At the Rapture, God will remove the few believers by means of the
Rapture.In both cases, all of the
others were or will be, left behind with nothing to look to for help.
In Elijah s day, Elijah
complained that there were none left but himself, however, God reminded him
that there were indeed more believers.
Just because Elijah did not know of them did not mean that they did not
exist.
To those who are
positive, God will provide truth, and without any burden being placed on
anyone.Bible doctrine is free. Whether you advance enough in your spiritual
life and desire to participate, for the right reasons, is left between you and
your daily commitment.