1 Corinthians 9
The Rights of an Apostle
1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas[a]? 6Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?
7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Footnotes:
[a] 1 Corinthians 9:5 That is, Peter
[b] 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4
3 comments:
I Cor 9
Pretty amazing chapter! It is always a good reminder for me to here Paul's presentation on how we should be able to share in our own earnings but also be responsible to support those who minister to us.
I will say that the end of this chapter is so amazing to me. He sets the bar so high for us on how we should evangelize to those around us. He became all things to all men! So, he did not go in condemning everything that they were, he took the time to build a relationship on common ground in order to win them for Christ. He also was disciplined beyond anything I think I am capable of in order to be effective. AMAZING!
Father God, give me the ability to fully devote myself to you and use me to further Your kingdom by whatever means you see fit. Help me stay disciplined and focused on You and Your word and whatever You have in store for me and my brothers.
In Christ's Holy Name,
cas
1 Cor 9
Wow- it sounds like Paul has a little something to get off of his chest.
As an aside, (and from an ex-athlete (and I do mean ex-)) wouldn't this be the most amazing halftime speech ever by a coach? Simply motivating and wanting to hold you/us to the highest standards but not condemning what we've already done wrong? I'm ready to go kick some dupa right now!
As for its true relavance, I have to say that it makes sense and I agree with cas that it's something I want to strive for, but recognize that I'm far from there yet. Small training items like these posts help keep my spiritual body in shape. I certainly feel like God has me as a guerrilla warrior in enemy lines most of my days, and I look for small battles that I can win for Him, while trying to simply survive spiritually.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
I think that this is a way to explain the truth to those who don't completely get it. Simply put, if we all "do our best" (TRULY our best), live by faith, lean on God at all times, we can ALL win the prize, but we have to run as though only one can win.
God, help me to live this chapter not just read it and be amazed by it. Help me to discipline myself to pray, read, and spread your Word. Help me to be a Godly vessel to teach others of the truth that has set me free. In Jesus' name,
Amen
In Christ,
crb
In the first 15 verses reveal a real problem with the Corinthians, as if we haven't already seen their spiritual immaturity in the face of such great spiritual gifting. Their generosity is not flowing and, in fact, several of them must be complaining about any form of giving/tithing/sharing with the apostle(s). Why else would Paul launch into such a long passage of metaphors and analogies dealing with it all. No doubt, if you find a believer who is not generous (whether it is with finances, time, ...whatever), you will have found an immature brother.
Why? Because God is a God of lavish giving. I know that this is an area that I am tempted to withhold at times. As the gas prices climb, heating oil rises, another baby on the way, and fixing our old homes' little problems, I need to be reminded of this again.
It is ironic that after Paul launches out into this topic, he reminds the Corinthians that he hasn't been begging or anything. He has avoided it to avoid raising the problem. However, out of the love of a discipler, he raises it because it is an area that is not under Christ's Lordship for the church there.
cas and crb, vs. 19-23 is an amazing statement from Paul dealing with the primacy of evangelism. Was he manipulative? No, but he was not about to let some little thing get between someone and the Gospel. I wonder how many times I have let my own personal comfort stand between me and the message? Am I willing to exit "my world" and enter another's in order to share with them? Afterall, isn't that exactly what the Incarnation revealed to us about God's methods? So I guess we should expect Paul to follow his example.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
Ah America's favorite pastime/diversion..."aimless living." I am definitely needing improvement here. That is why the whole "Purpose-driven" movement is so vital for so many. When we chose entertainment (aka "slick diversions") over ministry opportunities/relationship investments, we are putting earthly dust before Kingdom Gold.
Lord, help me to value what You value, invest in what truly matters, and walk with purpose and intention. Forgive my quest for entertainment of this world at the neglect of Your mission. Hlep me connect those two worlds together in ministry, family, life.
In Christ's name,
a-men
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