Sons or Beggars (Part Two)

© 2025 Philip M Spence

In the first part of this blog, I spoke about the colonised mindset, where ministries believe that a spiritual father is responsible for supporting his sons. This is a cultural perspective in many nations, but not a Kingdom principle. In the Kingdom of God, mature sons support their father.

Let’s talk about fathers and sons. When sons are young and immature, a father supports them throughout their years of growth to adulthood. Once they become an adult, they are responsible for themselves and their own families. Then they mature into a season where they support and care for the father who once supported them.

The Bible says, ‘First the natural, and then the spiritual’ (1 Corinthians 15:46). The three stages that I have just mentioned apply to spiritual fathers and their sons in the faith. Those who are young and immature in the Lord, and in the ministry, need their father to support them in many ways. However, they must develop into spiritual adulthood, otherwise they will become beggars.

Spiritual adulthood is the phase in which spiritual sons learn to stand on their own two feet, exercise faith, walk in their authority, and produce fruit that remains. If they are true sons, they do not expect their father to support them in the same ways as when they were immature.

Also, they do not sever ties with their father, but they enjoy a more mature relationship with their spiritual father. They honour their spiritual father because of who he is, not because of the benefits that they receive. They know that their spiritual father is not perfect, but they honour him because it is a principle of the Kingdom (Matthew 15:4).

Then comes the phase of real maturity in which the sons support the spiritual father. This is not because the father is old, weak, infirmed, or poor. This is a principle of life, and the Kingdom of God. I sow into my spiritual father, not because he needs the money, but because I honour him.

These three phases of life can be seen in the Israelite generations. Until the age of twelve, the sons are immature and are supported in every way as they grow toward adulthood. Bar Mitzvah at twelve years of age is the initiation into adulthood. From twelve to thirty years of age, the sons learn how to function as an adult, they learn the family business, and they do things somewhat independently but still work with their father.

At around fifty years of age, the sons begin to assume responsibility for the family business. The father is now the patriarch of the family and his role changes from carrying the load to being a source of wisdom and counsel. The sons now bear the load and look after their father.

I have not found anywhere in the New Testament where the apostolic fathers supported their mature sons in the faith. In the Jerusalem church, the Holy Spirit led people to sell houses and land and bring the proceeds to the apostles who distributed the wealth. In Asia Minor, mature churches of cities and regions supported their apostolic fathers as they poured themselves out across that part of the world.

Philippians 4:10-19

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all these things through Christ who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.

15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul commended the Macedonian church for caring for him so much that they looked for every opportunity to meet his needs. He recognised that their passion to support him came from a deep love for him. He commended them for being the first church to support their spiritual father, and for continuing to do so as they had opportunity.

Paul’s heart was full because of their heart toward him, not because of how he benefitted from their gifts, but because of what would build up in their account as a result of supporting him. Sowing into your spiritual father releases grace and other supernatural dimensions to the sons.

I have not asked or demanded that my spiritual sons sow to me, but I have had many people over the years tell me that they are too poor to sow to their spiritual father. Others have talked about how tough it is in their nation, and the persecutions that they are encountering. Others say that there is no point because their currency is worthless compared to mine. However, the amount sown isn’t the issue. What is important is a willing heart. The truth is that there is a grace that God bestows on sons so that they can sow into their spiritual father, and build up their account of grace.

Paul desired to see the Corinthian church mature in the grace in which the Macedonians functioned. He described to them the terrible situation that the Philippians were in. However, in the midst of it, they abounded in their giving to Paul, and they refused to be deterred when Paul shared that he did not need their gifts. In fact, the grace upon them meant that they gave beyond their natural, physical ability to do so, and did it with joy.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

Then we see that the Philippians begged Paul to receive their support because they saw it as sowing into those to whom Paul ministered. They understood that their giving was partnering in the advancement of the Kingdom, and the fruit that would be produced. The grace that enabled their passion and giving came because they gave themselves not only to the Lord, but also to Paul and his team. The key to sowing into your spiritual father is firstly to give him your heart.

Paul then took extraordinary action. He sent Titus to complete this grace in the Corinthian church and exhorted them to abound in it. Paul had a grace to be content no matter what his circumstances. However, his sons in Corinth, those he had begotten in the gospel, needed to abound in the grace demonstrated by the Macedonian church.

I have experienced the grace to give beyond myself. And I have sons who carry the grace demonstrated by the Philippians. I also have sons who are yet to come into this grace, and I am believing that for their sake, they will.

Keep a look out for Part 3 of this blog, coming soon!

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Phil Spence is an author, speaker, mentor and musician. He leads Enlarj, a relational apostolic network influencing more than 20 nations. He oversees School of the Kingdom Global in many of these nations. Phil is internationally recognised as an apostle. Phil may be contacted via phil@enlarj.com