1 Corinthians 9:14

The apostle Paul is legendary for his work as a minister of the gospel. But we often forget that throughout his ministry, Paul also worked as a tentmaker. As Scriptures in this plan make clear, Paul had the option to work as a “donor-supported missionary” but chose not to. Why? That’s the question we’ll answer in this plan, and in so doing, glean insights relevant to our own work today.

The Scriptures give a number of reasons for people to work—all of them profound in their own way—because what we do for a living matters to God. Work has value in and of itself, it is intrinsically a good thing, and when work is done with excellence, it reflects God. The Bible tells us that our work accomplishes God’s work and purpose in the Kingdom through His grace.

This week we look at the sixth heart attitude: support the work financially. We will discover the way the Lord has established to support His work and our place in that plan. We will explore how to give our gifts to the Lord and how we can grow to become a cheerful giver to the Lord.

All Christians are called to love and serve the needs of others, but some believers are uniquely gifted to serve by leading, preaching, teaching, shepherding, evangelizing, or going cross-culturally as missionaries. Ministry begins with and is sustained by grace. This devotional plan will help you practice grace in your service to God.