1 Corinthians 9:3-10

3Some people do not like what I do. This is my answer to what they say against me:

4As apostles, Barnabas and I should receive food and drink from the people that we help.

5If we have a Christian wife, we should take her with us as we travel. The other apostles do this. So do the Lord's brothers, and also Peter. We have the same authority that they have.

6Barnabas and I seem to be the only leaders who must work at other jobs. We should not need to do that!

7Think about these examples: A soldier never has to pay for his own food and clothes. A farmer who plants vines will eat some of the grapes. A person who takes care of sheep or goats will drink some of the milk from those animals. You know that is what always happens.

8I am not just telling you human ideas. God's Law teaches the same thing.

9God's Law that he gave to Moses says this: ‘Do not tie shut the mouth of your ox while it walks on your grain.’ But God's Law does not teach this only to help bulls.

10No, God wanted to help us too. That is why he gave this rule to Moses for his people. Any farmer who works hard to grow food should get some of the food for himself. He ploughs his fields and he prepares the seeds because he hopes to eat some of the food.