Ben F. Vick, Jr
In John’s third epistle he commends Gaius for his hospitality to the brethren and strangers who had testified before the church of his love for them in saying, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth” (3 John 5-8).
“To bring forward” translates to a word that means to escort or aid in travel. This expression means helping the preachers on their journey with food, money, and arrangements. Gaius was able to provide for their expenses. Another source says: “The sending of missionaries on their way involved providing for their journey – supplying them with food and money to pay for their expenses, washing their clothes and generally helping them to travel as comfortably as possible” (Rienecker and Rogers, Linguistic Key To The Greek New Testament, p.800).
The Apostle of Love tells Gaius he will do well to help these traveling preachers in their travels. How was this to be done? John says, “after a godly sort” or “in a manner worthy of God,” that is, since they are God’s preachers, treat them as you would God. How would one treat Jesus if he were traveling to your congregation? Would you not be willing to help financially with his expenses? Someone may remark: Yes, but this was Gaius, the individual. Is this not a Christian duty? What is said to be done by the individual as a Christian act, the church may also do. But if that principle is not acceptable (which some brethren pervert), consider other verses that do apply to the church.
When Jewish brethren were attempting to bind circumcision on Gentile brethren, Paul and Barnabas were sent from the church in Antioch to Jerusalem. Luke records, “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren” (Acts 15:3). This was a matter that was troubling the church; so, the church took care of Paul and Barnabas’ expenses from Antioch to Jerusalem. It is scriptural for the church to pay the costs of the preacher or preachers when they must travel and to assist when trouble arises. There were times when W. L. Totty was called upon to help with some issues and pay his own expenses.
Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, said, “Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company” (Rom. 15:24). The words “to be brought on my way” are from the same Greek word (προπέμπω) as in Third John 6. Paul trusted the brethren at Rome to help with his expenses. Missionaries travel to raise their support or to get help in the work in which they are engaged. They often receive nothing from the churches that have them speak. It is right for preachers to rehearse how God has used them to preach the gospel (Acts 14:27). It is beneficial to the church for the missionaries to give reports of their work. It is likewise helpful, and it is the duty of the church to help them with their expenses. “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock?... Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:7-14).
In closing his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul spoke of his plans, saying, “And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go” (1 Cor.16:6). “Bring” (προπέμπω) once again means to pay the expenses, to help financially. Even though Paul received no remuneration from the church at Corinth while he labored with them, he hoped they would help him on his future travels. Most preachers/missionaries would not even suggest that the church help them with their travel expenses; however, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul expressed his wish that the church would assist him.
Some churches with which I am familiar hand a check to the visiting preacher at the close of a meeting. Such is a matter of judgment. The Shelbyville Road congregation usually hands the preacher his check on the first day of the meeting. This practice was started while W. L. Totty was the preacher here over 44 years ago. It may have been the practice at the Garfield Heights congregation when he was there as well. The reason was that the visiting preacher might need his money while in the meeting. We have continued this practice. We do not need to be as one brother prayed concerning the preacher’s support: Lord, you keep him humble, and we’ll keep him poor. Is it not a matter of practicing the Golden Rule to care for the preacher’s needs (Matt. 7:12)? Brethren need to put themselves in the place of the preacher or missionary.
I heard the story of one church that passed the hat to pay the preacher after the gospel meeting. The visiting preacher, sitting on the front pew after last night’s meeting, put in $2.00. The hat was passed through the assembly, and the man who had the hat brought it to the preacher. The preacher looked into the hat and saw only $2.00. The preacher remarked: Is this all I get? The brother told him that if he had put more in, he would have gotten more out.
Many years ago, J.D. Tant, a Texas preacher, had a debate in Sherman, Texas. The brethren promised that when their cotton crop came in, they would pay him the additional money owed him. However, they did not send it, and nothing was done about it. Thirty-eight years later, Tant wrote to the brethren, wondering if they had picked their cotton yet. If so, he would deeply appreciate the rest of the support he had been promised. He never received it. Brethren tend to forget. Preachers made great sacrifices in bygone years.
When Jesus sent the missionaries out on the limited commission, in part, he said, “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of Peace be there, your Peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:” (Luke 10:5-8). The missionary is worthy of support. The preacher also has the right to have his wife with him on his journeys. Paul said, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” (1 Cor. 9:5).
Brother Hardeman was known to say: A word to the sufficient is wise. I have said enough. Some might think too much. Think on these things.