Do you know what "charity" means? it's not philanthropy, it's agape.
Do you know what "agape" means? It's Christian love, the sacrificial type of love Jesus embodies towards us, the type of love He demonstrated on the cross; it's differentiated from other types of love in the Greek, namely "eros" (sexual love), "phileo" (brotherly love), and "storge" (familial love).
in vrs 3 and 4 it mentions the others who had a right to it ... but it was the traveling oversears ... but a right to what? the congregation funds, it doesn't mention the local bishops or elders, it's people who travel and then rely on hospitality, and who had a right to the congregation funds? We see in Acts how the thing was set up .... Pauls letters HAS to be taken in the context of how the first century church was set up.
If context is critical (and I agree it is), then the TEXT is even more so. And nowhere in the text, this passage or elsewhere, does Paul or any other apostle, or any other writer of the New Testament mention any such right - let alone a right to "the congregation funds." It's not there; neither can it be logically or reasonably inferred to be there. It's something your indoctrination has ADDED to the text, ADDED to make it say something it doesn't say.
Paul is talking about his right as a minister to expect compensation for his ministerial services - i.e. to be paid by those to whom he has ministered. He cites as an example (see vs. 13f) those who served in the temple, having a right to their "share of the altar," that is, to be fed from a portion of the foods sacrificed there. This was something God instructed the Israelites w/r to those performing as priests. Paul took that same example and applies it to those who "preach the gospel" (referring to himself and others, e.g. Barnabas set aside by The Lord for that purpose) - verse 14 "So also The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." Moreover, while Paul cites this "right" (the Greek word, 'ezousian' actually means "authority"), the right just mentioned, Paul VOLUNTARILY waived the right for the sake of those to whom he ministered, lest he be in any way a cause for their stumbling (cf chapter 8).
We also know what Jesus commanded ... "You recieved without patment... give withot payment." That was Jesus' command ... and I don't think the apostles wen't againts that command.
"Freely you received, freely give" is a reference to Matthew 10:8 (cf verses 5 - 10) where Jesus sent His disciples to preach the gospel to the house of Israel. He gave them power to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give" - meaning to use their powers to heal, resurrect, cleanse, cast out... Furthermore, he adds this, which contextually corroborates what I said above: "9 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff;
for the worker is worthy of his support."
Now, having said that, it's also clear that EVERYONE who has ANYTHING has it because they [ultimately] received it from The Lord too. Cf. I Cor 3:18 - 4:16 (esp. 4:7), which Paul uses to address those who think themselves in any ways "wise in this age" (3:18), not to think more highly of themselves than they ought, exhorting them to "be imitators of me [Paul]" (4:16).
Christians are throughout the NT commanded to "love one another." Our love for one another is in fact PART of the gospel message inasmuch as it is by our love for one another that we will be recognized by the world as His disciples (Jn 13:35).
The sense of "community" and communal love for one another comes directly from Jesus' commands that we love one another. Paul is clear that such love is to be BOTH sacrificial AND sensitive to each other's weaknesses, that we are not to use our liberty in Christ in such a manner as to cause anyone to stumble (cf the above). This is agape love, Christ's love, and the reason Paul refused compensation for his ministry. He could work to pay his way, and did, holding down two jobs rather than just the one he'd received from The Lord. THAT was Paul's example to the church.
While Christians in need might legitimately anticipate their fellow Christians will provide for them in their time of need, because Christians who have the means to alleviate such needs are commanded to do so (Jesus' love commands it), Paul, and even Jesus are firm in their teaching that no Christian should at any time EXPECT such help,
that is to presumptuously TAKE ADVANTAGE of this Christian love, whether by laziness and idleness (cf 2 Thess 3), or by arrogance, imagining it is somehow their "right."
Similarly, neither should anyone teach such presumptive arrogance as those who preach entitlements do these days.
