Paul said in verse 6-12: ‘Is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever ploughs and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?’

When I stepped out independently from my church, I had to support myself. The expansion of the Bible smuggling was supported by my travel company. There are those who seek to gain a major reward out of serving God; I didn’t just give a tithe; I set a target to give God 90% and live on 10%. 

Some of the biggest miracles I’ve seen where when I was supporting everything as an individual. It was in my heart to give God everything. 

Paul was a tentmaker, an important occupation, he did it everywhere he went. Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should receive their living from the Gospel.

Before I set up a charity to support my vision, I used to borrow money to fund the evangelism. But then the work grew so big I needed the support of fellow believers; yet I don’t think those of us in ministry should profit because of the generosity of others – our needs should be met, but we shouldn’t be making a fortune out of Christian work, rather, plough the money back into the mission field.