SHARE ALL GOOD THINGS WITH YOUR TEACHER

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MARCH 11, 2022

TOPIC: SHARE ALL GOOD THINGS WITH YOUR TEACHER

BY T. O. BANSO

“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Galatians 6:6 New King James Version).

It is true that some verses in the Bible may not be so clear to understand. Therefore, you could find people giving different interpretations. But many scriptures are very clear except one wants to pretend or does not like what they are saying. Indeed, there are some verses that some Christians would wish were not in the Bible!

For instance, Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:27-31 New King James Version). Most people don’t like to do what Jesus said. It is counter-cultural.

When some people ask certain questions on a verse in the Bible, it could be because they are ignorant and need to be educated. But it could also be that some people only want to run away from the truth and need somebody who will help them to misunderstand the Bible!

What does Paul mean in Galatians 6:6? The verse says, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (New King James Version). I thought the verse is unambiguous. But somebody seems to have a problem with the phrase “share in all good things with him who teaches.” He thinks because we talk about sharing testimonies in church, therefore, the Bible is talking about sharing good testimonies with someone who teaches you the Word of God!

Such an interpretation can either be borne out of ignorance or selfishness and stinginess. Paul’s message is very clear that anyone who is taught the Word of God should reciprocate by sharing the good things he has with his teacher. These good things refer to material or temporal things. He is not talking about sharing testimonies although it is proper to do that. But this verse is not talking about testimonies.

See the verse in another translation: “But let those who receive instruction in Christian truth share with their instructors all temporal blessings” (Galatians 6:6 Weymouth’s New Testament). The Holman Christian Standard Bible puts it this way: “The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher.”  But Christians who are selfish and stingy will have a problem with that. The Living Bible renders Galatians 6:6 thus: “Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them.”

Instead of sharing their temporal or material things with those teaching them the Word of God, some Christians will rather send them prayer requests or tell them “God bless you” or similar phrases! It’s good to pray for those who teach you the Word of God but you must also not neglect the aspect of communicating to them, sharing with them, or giving to them your temporal things. If you violate this scripture, how can you be sure God will answer your prayer for them?

Paul wrote Galatians 6:6 to the Galatians, apparently, because they were not giving to those who taught them the Word of God. How can you neglect those who spend time to study and teach you the Word of God and all you tell them is “God bless you”? Even those in the world know better. They pay their teachers, trainers, or speakers.

Hear Adam Clarke’s commentary on Galatians 6:6 as regards the phrase “Communicate unto him that teacheth” as used in the King James Version: “Contribute to the support of the man who has dedicated himself to the work of the ministry, and who gives up his time and his life to preach the Gospel. It appears that some of the believers in Galatia could receive the Christian ministry without contributing to its support. This is both ungrateful and base. We do not expect that a common schoolmaster will give up his time to teach our children their alphabet without being paid for it; and can we suppose that it is just for any person to sit under the preaching of the Gospel in order to grow wise unto salvation by it, and not contribute to the support of the spiritual teacher? It is unjust.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary). This explanation is very clear.

Also,   Albert Bernes explained “in all good things” as “in everything that is needful for their comfortable subsistence.” (Albert Bernes’ NT Commentary). It makes sense that a student should support his teacher so that he will continue to teach him. Those who are taught the Word of God should sustain those who teach them. This refers to financial or material support. This is consistent with other verses of the Bible.

Paul said in Romans 15:27, “It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things” (New King James Version). Did you see that the scripture talks about spiritual things and material things?

Also, in 1 Corinthians 9:11, Paul talked about spiritual things and material things: “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?” (New King James Version).  As your teacher gives you spiritual things,  you should also give him back material things. Share your material things with the person who sows the spiritual seed of the Word of God into your life. This is the principle of God. 1 Corinthians 9:14 says, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (New King James Version). Christians should provide for their teachers and not be stingy.

Hear Paul again: “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18 New King James Version). The phrase “those who labor in the word and doctrine” means those who labour in preaching and teaching. Paul quoted from Deuteronomy 25:4 when he talked about not muzzling an ox while it treads out the grain. Jesus also said in Matthew 10:10 that the labourer deserves his wages.

Give financial or material support to those who teach you the Word of God. Be guided by the Word of God. Support them as you purpose in your heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Support them regularly. Nobody needs to put pressure on you or manipulate you; support your teacher voluntarily. Be like those women in Luke 8:2-3 who provided for Jesus from their substance.

As you do, you will reap your harvests at the right time. He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6). Your support is not in vain. Do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you shall reap if you do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, I repent of my sin of not sharing all good things with my teacher as You have said in Your Word. I will no longer be selfish and stingy. As I partake of spiritual things from my teacher, I will also minister to him in material things. I will bless him with my temporal things. Holy Spirit, help me to be a generous, cheerful, and regular giver. As I give to support my teacher, I receive my harvests at the right time in Jesus’ name.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org