1 Corinthians 9:9
“For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?”
It is interesting that one of the most fleshly churches in the Scriptures is reminded to reward the ox. Paul reminded this church how that he and Barnabas had given of themselves to help them get back to doing what they were supposed to do without reward; however, this problem was obviously one of the greater problems in this church. Many of the people who served in this church were not being rewarded, and Paul reminded them that the ox should be rewarded for its work.
I believe there is a great truth that is often missed in this verse. This verse is oftentimes used to talk about financially caring for men of God, but I don’t believe this is the only principle that this verse is teaching. The principle is that a person should be rewarded for their work. This is talking about any type of work. For instance, it is work for a person to grow in the LORD, and they should be rewarded accordingly when they grow. There should always be a reward for when someone “treadeth out the corn.” Let me give you a couple reminders that will help.
First, work always comes before reward. A mistake I have seen in recent years is that we are rewarding people before they have worked. Colleges are giving free tuition before the student has even studied. The government gives some citizens finances before they have worked. Pastors have rewarded their children with position before their children have even worked. In each of these cases, it doesn’t mean that the person is not doing a good job, it is simply taking reward out of God’s order. Likewise, you don’t give someone a position in the church in hopes that they will conform to the church’s rules for leadership. You give someone a position because they have grown in the LORD. You must always remember that God’s order is work first, reward second.
Second, reward comes after accomplishment. You will notice that the ox had already treaded the corn before it was rewarded. There was an accomplishment before they were rewarded. Certainly, someone is worthy of their hire, but reward should only come after accomplishment. If someone is doing what everyone is doing, then they should not be rewarded with leadership, but simply paid for their work. Accomplishment must be the standard people see for reward.
Third, a lack of reward after accomplishment only frustrates the one who has worked. It says in verse 10, “…that he that ploweth should plow in hope.” If a person accomplishes something, then reward should follow. Many Christians have been frustrated to the point of quitting because they accomplished something spiritual and were not rewarded for that accomplishment. One of the reasons someone grows in the LORD is that they will be rewarded for their growth. If there is no reward, then what is the purpose of growing?
Friend, let me encourage you to reward people when they have grown in the LORD. Don’t make them “prove” themselves longer to allow them to step up for this will only frustrate them. Simply put, those who have accomplished something are those who should be rewarded with leadership. Don’t be guilty of frustrating the growth of those whom you lead.