Originally Posted by cows_chewing_grass

Sure that sounds like a fine rationale but it's not what Jesus said to do. He didn't say that some people should work for money to support others. He said, to his followers, that they should seek first the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven isn't about working for money. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and god will take care of the things we need. You see, we don't need "kings" working in system jobs to support the poor old missionaries.

God is able to do that. What we need are labourers but unfortunately there are far too many people who would rather pay others to do the job for them.



And who was Paul writing to? Communities of believers living and working together. The issue has never been about working verses not working. The issue is about who we are working for. Go ahead and give any quote from Paul you like about working. I guarantee you won't find anything in there about working for money (although you can assume that is what he was talking about).

At one point he said "those who do not work, should not eat". Fair enough, but this still says nothing about working for money. It's a teaching about not being lazy.



Are you aware that James and John and Paul all left their jobs to follow Jesus full time? Why would the standard for others be different? All three of those guys admonished their followers to do as they did.

See the point isn't about everyone all doing the same task. The point is about getting the foundation properly laid. You can't serve two masters. Jesus said one master is God and the other master is mammon (money and the things money can buy).

Why did Jesus tell his followers to consider the birds of the air and the flowers of the field? Because they don't work for money and yet God cares for them. He said that we should not let worry about monetary issues stop us from stepping out in faith.

At one point he even told the people (not just some special select group of apostles) to not even work for food! Yes he really did! (john 7)

Jesus is trying to get us to see the kingdom of Heaven as something more than just what this world has to offer, but like Nicodemus, we'll never be able to even see it until we become born again, like little children trusting daddy to put food on the table.

So, who's your daddy? The systems of man offering you little bits of paper and metal if you serve it's interests? or God who offers you eternal life if you will only give your time (yes, even the 40 hours a week chasing the dollar) to him and his kingdom?

I know who I'm choosing!