Serving like an OX S29e60 Dt25:4

God wants a bunch of OXEN in His church.  Working. Laboring. Eating voraciously. He wants everybody to be using their gifts for His kingdom. Every single person should have an answer to the question: "Where do you serve?"

The relevance of this ancient verse is reinforced by two significant reiterations of it in the New Testament.  It is there that the full meaning of our ancient passage is brought forth.  It is about more than OXEN.  It is about what we owe our pastor/elder. Listen 7 minutes to hear what we owe those who work hard amongst us.

https://youtu.be/-JrGWz9TAxE

Transcript

Serving like an OX S29e60 Dt25:4

New testament fans are going to be familiar with our verse for today.  

You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain. Dt 25:4

An animal is working—doing its’ thing. Using their gifts so to speak.

Point one: use your gifts. Be an worker. Beast of burdens for church

         Every single person should be able to answer this question: 

         Where do you serve in the church?

I do not have any objections to also serving as soccer coach and PTAchairperson, BUT FIRST serve in the local church.

         Here is how you will know that you are serving:

                  It will be INCONVENIENT, andwill tax you to point of exhaustion

         First, find someone you have to stoop towards, and serve them.

God WANTS Oxen. Workers. Doers. Servers.

Verse is further interpreted in the NT

Of note, in the NT the OX refers to people who are working for God

Point #2: pay your pastor 1 cor 9:4-11 Paul 

4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 

8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

Our pastors are our soldiers at the tip of the spear. 

Who serves as a soldier at their own expense: ? plants a vineyard without eating its fruit; tends a flock without enjoing the fruit of milk? Nobody.

NT writers read the OT and found the Spirit indwelling and inspiring the words. 

Are we really just talking about oxen here?

No, this passage reveals the economy of your church. Much of the work of the church is done by volunteers, as it should be. But there are a cadre of staff, devoted to the work full-time, that merit our financial support.

Note this: NT tells us that this passage is NOT just for OT times.

         Once again, DT is practical and applicable to today

         Does HE (moses) certainly not speak for our sake? v.10 (Paul and b.)

Note this: this passage is not just for OT Oxen

         You should have someone in your church that you should be paying for their work

Eureka: of course getting spiritual things from and investment of material things is worth it! 

         To receive the imperishable in exchange for that which will surely perish is a good trade. 

Would you trade the priceless for mere material things?

         I suppose this is a congregational gut check too: if spiritual things are not being sown, then you probably shouldn’t be investing your material treasure there. They’re providers of the priceless therefore:

Point #2: pay your pastor 1 cor 9:4-11 Paul 

Point #3. Give your elders the other stuff that is due them.

 Actually quoted in another context in the NT. 2nd quotes 1 tim 5:17

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Here, Elders/overseers/leaders/shepherds/teachers job description are due some stuff: 

So, echoing the first NT 1 cor 9 passage:: 

1.wages if their devotion to the labor merits it 

2. protection from charges without solid evidence.—presumably because they have had a relatively clean previous assessment on their journey to eldership.

3. but also the respect of the office. Right attitude towards spiritual leaders: wanting to be a joy to them,  eagerness to co-labor, and submit when it is difficult.  In considering it, it is always difficult.

3 big points: #1 Serve. Use your gifts. Find someone to serve. God wants a church full of oxen working for His kingdome

#2. Pay your pastor To receive the imperishable in exchange for that which will surely perish is a good trade.

#3. Give your elders what is also due: protection meritless charge, respect due the office.