“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Galatians 6:6).
The position of “teacher” is one of a number of spiritual offices (1) that have been established by God for a specific purpose: “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 ESV). The teacher’s role involves communicating the Scriptures in a manner that others can understand, remember, and apply within their lives.
In many instances, the role of a teacher often involves long hours of study and preparation. It may involve learning ancient languages or studying the nuances of particular words to effectively communicate their meaning. Nevertheless, a God-honoring teacher is driven by the sentiment expressed in the following passage from the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel: “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).
Although an effective teacher is a valuable resource, good teachers are sometimes underpaid, underappreciated, and undervalued by those they serve. This may be why Galatians 6:6 encourages those who receive the benefit of a teacher’s ministry to share in his or her support. The preponderance of bad teaching among the Galatian churches made support for the good teachers especially important and the same is true of our generation as well.
The concept of good things conveys the notion of something useful and may encompass financial resources, material goods, or other types of support. The idea is that those who devote themselves to a teaching ministry (especially those who serve on a full-time basis) deserve the support of those who benefit from their work. This should prompt us to examine our support for those who labor to communicate the Scriptures and ensure that we are contributing to their material and financial well-being.
The alternative is summarized by a quote from the following commentator…
“No minister, Paul in particular, can do his best in presenting the gospel if he has to give too much time to the task of making a living, or, as it often happens, to living on what he makes. On the other hand, no man should enter the ministry as a means of gaining a livelihood. When churches awake to their opportunities and privileges, the minister and the missionary will be more adequately supported.” (2)
Portions of this study originally appeared beginning here
(1) See 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11
(2) T. R. Applebury, Studies in First Corinthians, College Press Bible Study Textbook Series [pg. 164] © Copyright 1977 College Press. All Rights Reserved. https://archive.org/stream/BibleStudyTextbookSeries1And2Corinthians/121And2Corinthians-Applebury_djvu.txt