In our previous devotional, we delved into how Paul used Old Testament events like idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling to emphasize the significance of drawing lessons from history—a message of faithfulness and dependence on God's grace. Now, let's dive into the intriguing concept in this passage, which refers to the end of an era.

Upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Believers at that time anticipated that Jesus would come back soon to establish His kingdom within their lifetime. The phrase "upon whom the ends of the ages have come" in our passage this morning, indeed raises intriguing questions about the New Testament writers' understanding of the timing of Christ's return and the end of the age. It suggests a sense of imminence and contemporaneity in their eschatological expectations.

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away." 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NKJV):

"For this, we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NKJV)

"Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand." Philippians 4:5 (NKJV)

"Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:7-9 (NKJV)

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers." 1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV)

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20 (NKJV)

The logical conclusion that the first readers of these passages would come to is the imminent return of Jesus Christ! They would have interpreted these texts as if they were warning to them because they were! Every 1st-century Christ follower would have seen these verses as a call to be spiritually prepared, to prioritize their faith over worldly matters, and to eagerly anticipate the Second Coming of Christ, (which they believed could happen in their lifetimes.) These passages conveyed a sense of urgency and readiness for the imminent arrival of the Lord.

Seeing Jesus in it all

The concept of being "under the cloud" refers to the divine presence that guided the Israelites during their desert journey. In a Christian context, Jesus identifies himself with the divine presence, symbolizing guidance, protection, and a continuous relationship with God.

The scenario of passing through the sea, specifically the Red Sea, symbolizes liberation from bondage and a transformative journey. In Christian theology, Jesus is seen as the liberator and the pathway to salvation. The sea represents the challenges and obstacles of life, and Jesus is the means through which believers navigate and overcome these challenges.

In the context of the Israelites receiving manna in the wilderness, Jesus is often identified as the ultimate spiritual nourishment. He refers to himself as the "bread of life" in the New Testament, symbolizing sustenance for believers. The manna serves as a foreshadowing of the spiritual sustenance that Jesus provides through his teachings and sacrificial death.

The rock struck by Moses in the wilderness, bringing forth water, is seen as a symbol of God's provision. In the New Testament, Paul draws on this imagery, identifying Christ as the spiritual Rock. Jesus, in this context, represents the source of living water and the foundation of faith. The striking of the rock becomes a metaphor for Christ's sacrificial act, providing life and sustenance for believers.

Seeing Jesus in it all

The concept of being "under the cloud" refers to the divine presence that guided the Israelites during their desert journey. In a Christian context, Jesus identifies himself with the divine presence, symbolizing guidance, protection, and a continuous relationship with God.

The scenario of passing through the sea, specifically the Red Sea, symbolizes liberation from bondage and a transformative journey. In Christian theology, Jesus is seen as the liberator and the pathway to salvation. The sea represents the challenges and obstacles of life, and Jesus is the means through which believers navigate and overcome these challenges.

In the context of the Israelites receiving manna in the wilderness, Jesus is often identified as the ultimate spiritual nourishment. He refers to himself as the "bread of life" in the New Testament, symbolizing sustenance for believers. The manna serves as a foreshadowing of the spiritual sustenance that Jesus provides through his teachings and sacrificial death.

The rock struck by Moses in the wilderness, bringing forth water, is seen as a symbol of God's provision. In the New Testament, Paul draws on this imagery, identifying Christ as the spiritual Rock. Jesus, in this context, represents the source of living water and the foundation of faith. The striking of the rock becomes a metaphor for Christ's sacrificial act, providing life and sustenance for believers.

Drawing inspiration from Paul's willingness to forgo rights for the sake of the Gospel, believers may contemplate sacrificing personal comforts or ambitions in service to others and the advancement of the Christian message. Living with discipline involves regular engagement in spiritual practices—prayer, meditation, scripture study, and active participation in community worship—to nurture spiritual growth and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Emancipated from all human obligations, the apostle Paul asserts his independence, explicitly referring to his financial freedom and ability to provide for his own needs without relying on others. In our recent devotional, we highlighted Paul's liberty from economic dependence, allowing him to fearlessly proclaim the truth without concern for offense or the risk of losing support.

Application

Today, ministers can glean some great insights from Paul's ministry. Those who enter ministry should embrace humility, avoiding pursuing personal gain and glory in ministry, and prioritizing the transformative message of Christ over personal acclaim.

Ministers of Christ must show vigilance against distortions and false teachings, and this requires a commitment to safeguarding the purity of the gospel. Over the years we have witnessed people in churches who walk around the church building in their expensive suits with brass labels that read “apostle so and so” or “prophet so and so.” A young visiting pastor was told by one of these label wearing Apostles that if the young minister left the denomination or movement he was currently in and joined the apostle's movement, success was an absolute outcome. Likely success meant having a big building fill with people coming to listen to his “apostolic wisdom.” While, we are in no position to judge the motivation of the seemly ambitious apostle, we can’t help but compare his words and general air with that of the apostle Paul.

Paul’s goal was not to write 13 books of the New Testament. Nor was it his goal to plant churches. He had one goal to preach Christ and him crucified. A message that was an obstacle to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks. Yet, because he experienced the risen Christ, and was faithful to “preach the word” Many wonderful things did occur, churches were planted, letters were written, and today Paul is considered one of the greatest legal minds of his time. But that is not what Paul set out to accomplish.

Ministers should not worry about salaries or ecclesiastical careers. These concepts are foreign to the biblical record. Instead ministers should ask the question, does God call me? This question at some point should resolve with a “yes I am “or “no, I am not.” It would naturally follow that any other question is irrelevant. In that sense it is much like marriage “for better and for worst.” Entering ministry is never nor should it ever be about upward mobility whether social, vocational or ecclesiastical!

Pastors should ‘preach the word” inside and out, and with faith the Father shall provide for all their needs. Church leaders should humble themselves before the Lord, and in time God will lift them up.

In addition, ministers can draw inspiration from Paul's sense of necessity and urgency in preaching, viewing their calling as a divine appointment with eternal consequences.

Lastly, ministers are given through Paul’s example a way to find reward in the intrinsic satisfaction of fulfilling their stewardship and to approach preaching with a commitment to financial independence, emphasizing the integrity of their message.

Yes, we highly recommend that ministers follow Paul’s example with regards to being independently self-employed. Unfortunately, when a minister is self-employed many of those who are blessed by the minister spiritual care and insight, see his financial independence as reason not to give, instead of seeing this as an opportunity to bless the man or woman of God.

Still when God’s servant is free from depending on the financial support of those to whom he ministers, he is at the same time free to preach the truth and confront those who oppose the gospel by their lifestyle and words, while at the same time free of the worry of the truth affecting his pay check or tithes dropping.

As mentioned in our recent devotional, we continue to delve into Paul's defense within the current context. In verse three, Paul asserts that his defense to those scrutinizing him serves as an apparent response to individuals who questioned the authenticity of his apostleship. Our previous devotional outlined several potential reasons for this skepticism. However, the preceding passage suggests that one aspect under scrutiny was Paul's entitlement to compensation for his efforts in the kingdom.

Paul provides several reasons justifying his right to receive compensation for his labor. Employing examples from everyday life, such as a soldier, a farmer, and a shepherd, he argues that individuals who toil in a specific field have a legitimate claim to benefit from their labor. To bolster his case further, Paul draws an analogy to Old Testament practices related to the support of the Levites and priests who ministered in the temple.

Regrettably, a prevalent attitude among many members and congregations is to embrace a mindset of poverty. Some believe that God will provide for the minister's needs while distancing themselves from recognizing their role as the means through which God extends that provision to the minister.

While it may sound somewhat romantic, our vision includes a minister who prioritizes the needs of their congregation, fully invested in safeguarding and nurturing the members without seeking financial retribution. This aligns with Paul's belief that God will meet and provide for all their needs.

In this vision, we also imagine a congregation that embraces the principle of giving over accumulating, drawing inspiration from Philippians, where we are encouraged to consider others as more significant than ourselves. While this may be viewed as romantically naive, it doesn't escape the realm of possibility.