A unique aspect to apostolic ministry, which would include much of what we call “missions”, is that you frequently sow where you do not reap and reap where you do not sow. Most people who have not done this kind of ministry don’t ever even think about this unique dynamic.
“I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
John 4:38
Most pastoral ministry involves serving a specific local church congregation that usually pays you to serve that community vocationally. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. There is also an itinerant ministry expression where ministers receive honorariums from the various churches or events where they speak and minister. Similar to pastoral ministry, the flow of support is very obvious. You minister to a particular group of people, and then they bless you with financial support so you can continue in God’s calling.
In contrast to the pastoral or itinerant expression, the apostolic/missions calling usually involves going to places and doing things that will impact people who will usually not be the ones to fund your assignment. This means that other people have to fund and support your ministry, even though they will not directly benefit from it. This creates a situation that is uniquely challenging, full of risk, and also extremely rewarding. Having people give to you that do not benefit directly from you is unbelievably humbling. My ministry has been funded for over 11 years primarily by people who do not directly receive ministry from what I am doing. What an honor!
Paul experienced this phenomenon when he launched into his apostolic calling. The church at Philippi seems to have funded most of his early ministry, even though he was busy ministering to the broader body of Christ at-large or to the lost, not just to the church at Philippi.
“But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me. And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only”
Philippians 4: 14-15 AMP
It took me a while to understand this reality. In previous years, I would easily grow resentful when I sowed into people and places where I did not reap. Then later I would reap where I did not sow, but I would feel guilty, as if I now owed them something. I am gradually realizing that ultimately everything I do is unto the Lord, and that He is also my ultimate source. When I sow, I am sowing “to the Spirit [of God]“, and then when I reap, I am also reaping from the Lord.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:7-9
The Church needs an apostolic vision for sowing into places and people where they do not reap – to support and fund ministries and ministers who are doing important, pioneering kingdom activity that does not fund itself. We must understand the reality of sowing as unto God – that our sowing is actually releasing something in the spirit realm and that our reaping will be from the spirit realm as well. This is massively encouraging!! Because it means that we do not only give or get what we deserve, but we receive an exponential increase as we steward what God has given us (Matthew 25:14-28). This exponential reaping allows us to sow even more! And therefore the kingdom of God is advanced.
This kingdom principle obviously applies to financial stewardship, but it also applies to how we sow our time, energy, talents and prayers. If we want to reap where we have not sown, perhaps we first need to do more sowing where we will not reap.