[:en]Our Daily Verse (7/20/20)[:]

[:en]SCRIPTURE:  1 CORINTHIANS 9

“The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14)

“To the weak, I become weak, to win the weak.  I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)

“Everyone 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” (1 Corinthians 9:25)

THE RIGHTS OF THE APOSTLES (vs. 1-27)

Paul gave five arguments why Christian workers have the privilege of financial support from the church:

  1. Peter and other apostles received support from churches and they took their wives with them as they ministered (vs. 3-6)
  2. Soldiers receive supplies and wages from the government.  Farmers who toil the vineyard have the privilege to eat its grapes.  Shepherds can drink the milk and eat the meat of the flock.  The pastor is a soldier who protects the church from Satan’s infiltration.  He is a farmer that sows seeds of God’s Word.  He is also a Shepherd who leads and guides the believers.  Therefore, he deserves the prayer and support of the local church. (vs. 7-8)
  3. The Law of Moses mentioned about the plowman who works was entitled to share in the harvest.  Similarly, God’s servant should also benefit from their spiritual work (vs. 9-12)
  4. The priests in the temple got their food from the temple and those who served at the altar shared in what is offered in the altar.  So church members must support pastors who serve faithfully (v. 13)
  5. It is the Lord’s commands that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (v. 14).

However, Paul gave up his right to receive financial support for the following reasons:

  1. Since salvation is free, Paul wanted to make the gospel free and available to all (vs. 15-18)
  2. He wanted to be free and belong to no man.  His only master is Christ. (v. 19a)
  3. He wanted to win as many as possible by laying aside his personal privilege to accommodate everyone (to the Jews, to those under the law, to the weak) (vs. 19-23)
  4. He disciplined himself with hard work to get a lasting reward.  He guarded himself from being disqualified from the prize with faithful and sacrificial service (vs. 24-27)

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