The Bible Edge
Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have a Bible Edge
I Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Who is it that sows spiritual things into your heart, soul, and mind? Who is it that imparts unto you the hidden things of God and His eternal habitation? Who is it that assists you in understanding the great mysteries of the Bible? Who is it that gave you the gospel by which you are saved? Who is it that does without, if need be, to propagate the truth of God’s spiritual kingdom, and manner of living in this life?
Pastors. Your pastor. That’s who. No one else is deputed by Almighty God to oversee the sowing of spiritual truths into your understanding. Others may assist in this, but the pastor will be held accountable for sowing to you spiritual truths (see Hebrews 13:17).
According to Biblical teachings, pastors have a very important role, a vital role, in the life of every believer. Or they should. Yet, today, most don’t even believe that which the last two paragraphs communicate. You may, but the world in general, not so much. Paul dealt with this in his day, and pastors deal with it today. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul asks a heart probing and laser focused question to any who would ever read this letter to the local church in Corinth. He mentions two sets of opposites. Spiritual things and carnal things. Sowing and reaping. He asks should those who sow spiritual things to another receive natural things for doing so. Regardless of that which a pastor receives, the true highlight of this verse, in connection with the theme of “Random thoughts of a Spiritual Nature,” is that spiritual things are sown, planted, in a person’s life.
Remember Cornelius in Acts 10? Evidently God knew that this man needed to learn some spiritual truths, especially about eternal life in and through Jesus Christ. So, God dispatched an angel to this good man, but the angel could not tell him spiritual truth, all the angel could communicate to Cornelius was the instruction to go find Peter. Peter was the pastor of the church that Jesus Christ started on earth, the first church. Peter had to tell this man of the spiritual truths that he needed. Cornelius did find Peter; and as the pastor, he did tell Cornelius and all that were with him that which they needed. Upon Peter preaching to this congregation, the Holy Ghost fell on them giving them the faith to receive the things of the Lord. It’s an amazing story! But the overriding truth of the story is that the angel could not sow the spiritual things Cornelius needed, only the man of God could do that.
Think about it like this. I like a certain brand of blue jeans. There is only one store where they can be purchased. They are not cheap. I give carnal money for a carnal product. Everyone understands this. But in my life, there are some things that are infinitely more important to me than blue jeans, these are spiritual things. Beginning with the Gospel, ending with my eternal home in Heaven, and everything in between. These are spiritual truths that I owe my understanding of them to three pastors. One of which is still alive, and I make sure to give him some of my carnal money in appreciation for the spiritual things he put into my life, as I did the other two while they were alive. I will gladly give temporal money to those who have imparted to me eternal truths. They deserve it.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
댓글