Living in the good of the gospel means we take care of those who are faithful to teach us God Word.
1. All of us will be taught God’s Word.
“After the parable of the sower, Jesus says, ‘Consider carefully how you listen’ (Luke 8.18). He goes on to say that if we listen in one way, we will be ‘given more’; but if we listen in another way, even what we think we have will be take away from us. The way we listen is a life-or-death business. It is possible to have ears that fail to hear (Mark 8.18), to be ‘ever hearing but never understanding’ (Mark 4:12). Listening to sermons is a risky business; it can damage your health or take you closer to final rescue. What it won’t do is leave you unchanged.” —Christopher Ash
“The Bible is not designed to give me a series of instant fixes. It is God’s instrument to shape and mold my mind and character into the likeness of Christ. And that takes time. I need to listen to the Bible passage being preached today, and to turn my heart to God in submission and trust today, not only because I may need that passage today, but because I may need that passage tomorrow. And tomorrow may be too late to learn it. And this takes repetition and reminder.
“So we need, not a random series of sermon fixes, but to sit together regularly, week by week, under the systematically preached word of God. And as we are taken through the teaching of the Bible by patient exposition, gradually Christlikeness is worked into our character, our affections, our desires, our decisions, and our lives.” —Christopher Ash
2. Some of us will teach God’s Word.
“The role of the pastor-teacher is not to entertain or to use gimmicks to attract people to watch the performance. He is called to teach the truths of Scripture.” —David Platt
3. Those who are taught God’s Word should share all good things with those who teach God’s Word.
“This would include food, money, and whatever good things are appropriate for the teacher’s welfare.” —David Platt
“Paul’s burden was for the furtherance of the gospel, and he knew that the God-ordained means for accomplishing this was the steady proclamation of the Word of God by faith teachers. But these teachers would be limited if they could not take care of their daily necessities. By caring for the needs of the teacher, the church says, ‘We want the Word of God taught faithfully and effectively, so we will help support you.’” — David Platt