Work With Others

Work with Others

Matthew 10:9-15, NLT

Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. 11Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. 12When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.

Setting the Scene

These instructions seem, at first, to be contrary to normal travel plans, but they simply reveal the urgency of the task and its temporary nature. This was a training mission; the apostles were to leave immediately and travel light, taking along only minimal supplies. Instead of being sent out as isolated individuals, Jesus sent them in pairs (Mark 6:7). Each pair of disciples would enter a city or village and stay in the home of a “worthy person.”

The disciples’ dependence on others had four good effects: (1) It showed that the Messiah had not come to offer wealth to his followers; (2) it forced the disciples to rely on God’s power and not on their own provision; (3) it involved the villagers, making them more eager to hear the message; and (4) it built long-term relationships.

Jesus also had harsh words concerning those who would reject them and their message. Shaking the dust from their feet would demonstrate to the people that the disciples had nothing further to say and would leave the people to answer to God. Jesus was clearly stating that the listeners were responsible for what they did with the gospel. As long as the disciples had faithfully and carefully presented the message, they were not to blame if the townspeople rejected it. Likewise, we have the responsibility to share the gospel clearly, faithfully, and personally, but we are not responsible when others reject Christ’s message of salvation.

Getting Personal

In what ways has working with others in ministry enhanced and deepened your ministry?

What can you do to be more relational in ministry?

These days, with instant communication, modern transportation, and other high-tech resources, we can be tempted to maintain our independence or to rely on impersonal ministry methods. But God created us to live in relationship and to do his work with others. This training assignment implies that we have a clear responsibility to care for those who minister among us, especially those who visit from out of town. What can you do to relate more personally to those who minister in your community?

Talking to God

If you tend to be a “lone ranger,” managing your life and spiritual life independently, ask God to help you find others to work with and to hold you accountable. As you pray, listen for the Spirit’s prompting with ideas of brothers or sisters in God’s family whom you might bring alongside you.