| by Ray E. Daly (Lincoln, North Dakota) |
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| Eph. 4:28 “Let him that stole, steal no more. Rather, let him LABOR. Working with his HANDS that which is good. That he may have [extra] to give to the poor.” Most students of Scripture would quickly recognize the meaning and intent of the above words, “to give to him that has need”. There are so many Scriptures that support this command. For example, the night of the last Passover service, Jesus told Judas something, by which he left the gathering. The disciples wondered why he left. And one of their thoughts was that he was sent out to “give something to the poor”. The same poor that Jesus said would “always be with them”. Paul himself said that “We should remember the poor”. And went on to add to this, “Which I was [ready] to do.” And Paul “LABORED with his own hands”, making tents to help do so. And, by HIS labors, he even saw to the needs of those that traveled with him. Of course, his helping meant they likely worked with him. The point is Paul “set an example” as to how ALL in the True Churches should themselves be doing. The question is, to whom was Paul addressing, when he wrote the words of Eph. 4:28? Was it only to the assembly, or was he writing the words to the “elders”, and expecting them to pass it on to the assembly? Or was he addressing ALL of the assembly? Omitting none? Let us look at an example that would seem to say it was to ALL. There came a time when Paul was headed to Jerusalem. He was apparently short on time, so instead of going to Ephesus to address all of the members there and around, he had the “elders” come and meet him at Miletus. You can read the whole account for yourselves. But please note the words that he spoke specifically to them. Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to YOU [elders] ALL THE COUNSEL of God”. Does ALL such counsel not include the words of Eph. 4:28? Do you see any “exception” that Paul makes to the elders? Excusing them from not having to “labor with their hands”? Let us take the time to address some other words of the introductory verse. “Let him that stole, steal no more”. Consider the two related verses, addressed to the Ephesus church, in which it clearly says that the “elders” were supposed to labor, and not to be “paid salaries” by the assembly. Were there some within said group of “elders”, that were “taking wages” of the assembly, instead of working to make their own living? Were they “stealing” from the assembly, in an effort to show their superiority to the members, by expecting them to support them? Does this not seem to have been the mindset of the infamous “Diotrephes”? Sure, it does. And, it should be noted, that at the time of Diotrephes, at the end of the first century AD, the presence of the True Church, as a viable unit, is no longer viewed in history. It was there. But separated, and unseen. From what source in Scripture, do todays “ministers, priests, rabbi’s, and the like, gain their “authority” to take wages of their assemblies. Seriously, show from Scripture where they have EVER been given such command to do? How about the “old covenant book of the law”? Called Moses law? Were the “ministers, priests, rabbi’s” paid salaries? Look at the law and see. Most of today’s religious leaders, if they use Scripture at all, claim that the Levitical priests were given a “tithe” as their “wages”. Is that True? No! Yes, they were given a “tithe”, but if it were put into perspective, as other tithing Scriptures show, their “tithe”, was actually a “tenth”. In other words, a tenth of a tithe. Meaning, they were given “one in a hundred, not one in a ten”. Which, as other tithing Scriptures show, was to allow them to “observe the feasts”. Which was the only use given to the tithing system at all. And, if all “twelve” other tribes each gave one in a hundred to the Levites, they would have more than the giver. The Levitical priests DID NOT receive salaries. They would have been considered in Old Testament times, as those that were of the “poor”. But they were “given” offerings for the many “labors” that they put out SERVING the assemblies. They worked “with their own hands” as well. Even on the Sabbaths and Holy Days, when the assemblies would enter into the temple or meeting site, and would be “fed meals”, that the priests “cooked on the Sabbaths, served and cleaned up after on the Sabbaths”. Even the despised Pharisees “worked with their own hands”. Again, the Pharisee Paul, the “tent maker”. What is today’s mindset of MOST of the religious systems today? Catholic, Protestant Sunday keepers, and even Sabbath observing assemblies? Simply put, they are of the Diotrephes mind set. For the most part. But, if one would consider, said mindset of Diotrephes did not come from Scripture, but from the Old Testament religious systems. You know, those of the devil? |
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