06 >> "Didn't God change His missions budget in the New Testament?"

After Christ came, God did establish a new covenant whereby any believer (not just those in the family of Levi) could serve Him in vocational ministry. Jesus, who was a carpenter, could have funded His ministry by building furniture or repairing carts and tables fulltime, then teaching and healing during His spare time. But that's not the example He left those He calls to vocational service.

As Jesus went out ministering full-time, He relied on people (i.e. Mary, Martha, Lazarus) "who helped …support Him out of their own means" (Luke 8:3). Jesus had financial supporters.

When Christ commissioned His followers "to every city and place," He gave them the spiritual authority to minister and told them to trust Him for their physical provisions. "Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep" (Matthew 10:9,10).

They were to accept gifts from others, as Jesus said, "eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages" (Luke 10:4-7). A laborer in God's kingdom is truly worthy of being paid for his service. The workers in the early church lived on the same system of support that God established with the Levites.

 

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