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Today's Pathway: Romans 15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

We concluded yesterday with verse 24. Paul desired to visit the church in Rome, but it had not been a priority for him because he had been busy preaching in areas that had not heard the Gospel. I want to point out two things in verse 24 that Paul expected to take place when he visited the church. First, he says that he trusted "to be brought on my way thitherward by you". The word translated "brought" means "to escort or aid in travel". Paul expected that the church at Rome would provide for his travel needs and his accommodations while he was with them. Paul is not saying this because of arrogance or selfishness. This is something that any itinerant servant of the Lord should be entitled to. In Acts 15:3 it states that Paul and Barnabas were "brought on their way by the church". This principle is taught in III John 1:5-8 where John commends Gaius because

"Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth."

Second, Paul expected to be "filled" with their company. The idea of being "filled" is to be satisfied or satiated. We might think of it as the feeling one gets after eating a large Thanksgiving dinner. In the same way, Paul expected to be filled with the fellowship that he would get from the Roman church members. When Paul would begin preaching in a new town, he knew few people aside from those who might be traveling with him. He had no friends there, and often was rejected and abused by many of the people in the community. Because of that, he undoubtedly craved getting to spend some time with fellow believers who cared about him, supported him, and were interested in what he was doing.

There are principles here that churches need to consider. First, they have an obligation to provide for the needs of fellow believers who have itinerant ministries and are passing through their area. This would include missionaries and evangelists who are ministering at their church, but might also include others who are simply coming through their town while heading somewhere else. They are to be "brought on their way", which means that the congregation should at least provide for their travel expenses, their lodging, and their meals. In addition, most people with itinerant ministries have additional expenses beyond simply travel: insurance, car and house payments, etc. Those things are also needs, which churches should assist with through offerings. Second, when an itinerant minister comes to a church, the members ought to do everything in their power to encourage him and his family. They need to "fill him up" with fellowship. They need to talk to him, ask him about his work, make him feel comfortable and relaxed, and let him know that they care. This requires time. Simply saying "Hello" isn't good enough. The missionaries put up with a lot, and are often starved for fellowship. They need to know that their fellow Christians care.

Are you helping to meet both the financial and fellowship needs of the Lord's servants who pass through your church?