May 3

“I coveted no man’s silver or gold, or apparel.” Acts 20:33

Paul made no contract with the church in Ephesus, or with any other church, that he should receive a certain remuneration for a certain period of service. That God’s servants should look to human sources for the supply of their needs has no precedent in Scripture. We do read there of a Balaam who sought to make merchandise of his gift of prophecy, but he is denounced in no uncertain terms. We read also of a Gehazi who sought to make gain of the grace of God, but he was stricken with leprosy for his sin.

No servant of God should look to any human agency for the meeting of his temporal needs. If they can be met by the labor of his own hands, well and good; Otherwise he should be directly dependent on God alone for their supply.