You Freely Received, So Freely Give
This is a verse that stays with me. Matthew 10:8: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” The passage goes on to say, in verses 9-10: “Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” (ESV) This implies that we are to trust in God for our provisions, and through the blessings of those who follow him and who host us, but there’s a difference between accepting provisions and amassing wealth. What happens when our focus shifts from doing the work of the Lord to making a living doing work in the name of the Lord? That scripture in Matthew often cruises through my mind as I go about writing, creating, or serving in ministry—doing anything, really. It nudges me while listening to ministers or prophets online. Maybe it’s just me, but more often, it seems like a lot of these platforms—although perhaps...