Central Truth

This verse makes sense from a practical standpoint - real work to get paid, to buy real food, so we can eat. But what about our spiritual food?  If we don't work spiritually - we cannot eat spiritually. There must be a lot of starving people out there!

Reflections

"If man does not work he does not eat!" This is a phrase that hits close to home in times of recession, earthquakes, and poverty. Sure, if a man chooses not to work then there is no money to buy food. More appropriately, for this day and age, many aren't working because there isn't work to be had!  

But what about spiritually? We live in abundance. There's a church for every worship style, preaching style, or teaching style. There is a Bible study you can find for any day or time of the week. There are programs for your kids, for your spouse, or to find your future spouse. If you want to "eat" it's an all-you-can-eat buffet that you can eat alone or with others 24/7!

So what if work (which we will refer to as service) was a requirement to partake of this buffet? If serving was a requirement for getting spiritual nourishment, I'm afraid the Body of Christ would be pretty anemic.  You see the call every week: "ushers needed", "mentors wanted for Conrad High School", "Mission trip to India", "2-year-old class needs a teacher" but usually we look and think "somebody else will do it." 

In this passage Paul is telling us that "somebody else" should be you.  He even says, out of everyone, he had the right  to be served, but instead he served others to set an example for them to follow.

Our elementary kids jump at the chance to serve: to pass out papers, hold the door, and to help onstage. They are eager and excited. We have a program called Blessing Bucks. The children receive Blessing Bucks for memorizing scripture and for participating in their small groups. They exchange their Blessing Bucks for blessings. Ten Blessing Bucks send a child in India to school for a month. One hundred Blessing Bucks buys a goat for family in Sudan, so the family can earn an income. The kids WORK to EARN and in return not only do they EAT but others all around the world do as well.

Discussion Questions

1. Look at your service. If how you were "eating" spiritually were reliant on your service, would you be starving or would you be lean and muscled?

2. What is it that the Lord has gifted you to do? Are you a prayer warrior? A strong leader who commands attention? Do you love meeting new people?  

3. If you aren't serving where can you find a place to serve? Do it!