"Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?" - 1 Cor. 9:7. Paul is talking about our right in ministry, our enjoyment in ministry. Listen, never become so labor conscious or so reward conscious that you miss out on the enjoyment of that inheritance in Christ that is our portion in ministry. I am telling you, a works and reward consciousness can become such a snare, in both life and ministry, and it has for so many. But Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:5-12, that "Drawing contentment from godliness is great gain." He says, "Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of eternal life, where unto you are called." You see; eternal life is all about enjoying your relationship with God, as Daddy. It is you and your best friend Jesus enjoying life together. Eternal life is enjoying intimate fellowship with God in the Spirit. But now before you get all worried and think that God is calling you into deep poverty and self-sacrifice in your relationship with Him and for the sake of the ministry, He is not; neither God nor Jesus is calling you into poverty. God calls us to take our eyes off of men and to trust Him instead because He is faithful He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and He has promised to take care of us. He is our Daddy who loves us Are we not of more value, of more worth to Him than all the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields combined ?