“For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV).
Its not unusual to hear others exaggerate their efforts, especially regarding to the amount of work they have invested in some task. Yet when Paul the Apostle reminded the Thessalonians that he worked “night and day” on their behalf, its unlikely that he was engaging in hyperbole. Given what we know of Paul’s character, it seems that he actually labored before and after sundown to provide for his needs and avoid imposing a financial burden upon the Thessalonian church.
Paul will go on to provide an explanation for that decision in his next letter to the Thessalonian church…
“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
So unlike the questionable motives of those who sought financial compensation in exchange for their spiritual insight, no one could realistically accuse Paul of doing so. As one commentary observes, “The gospel didn’t cost the Thessalonians a penny, but it cost Paul plenty.” (1)
Yet even while Paul engaged in outside employment to support his work among the Thessalonians, he also endorsed the legitimacy of vocational ministry as well. Perhaps the clearest expression of Paul’s support for full-time ministry is found in the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians…
“Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
Paul also communicated the proper attitude towards ministry support in his letter to the churches of Galatia when he said, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Galatians 6:6). Nevertheless, Paul was willing to refuse the right to financial compensation in Thessalonica to serve the needs of the young congregation there. In doing so, he reminds us that it is sometimes right to decline a right if it will serve a greater good.
(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary (p.2027) Edited by Arthur Farstad Thomas Nelson Publishers