Our Daily Scripture – 6/14/22

SCRIPTURE:  1 CORINTHIANS 9

BIBLE VERSES:

“Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?  In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:11-13)

“What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:18)

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To 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.  To 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.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people 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 9:19-23)

“ Do 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.  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.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

THE RIGHTS OF AN APOSTLE (vs. 12-27)

Paul gave up his right to receive financial support for the sake of  saving the lost.  He begged the Corinthian believers not to judge him unfairly.  He gave examples of Christian ministry.  It is like fighting a war as a soldier, caring for a vineyard for its fruits, tending a flock and cultivating a field.  Those are images to show how to serve the Lord.

In his desire to win the lost, Paul had become all things to all men.  This does not mean that he had no conviction.  In fact, he was using his conviction to guild bridge not wall.  In other words, he was a tactful person who used his knowledge and win some in doing his ministry.  He tried to make himself become one of these in order to preach the gospel and win them to Christ : to the Jews, to those under the law, to those having the law, to the weak.

5 ARGUMENTS OF PAUL THAT SERVANTS OF THE LORD HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE CHURCH:

  1.  Other apostles like Peter received support from the church (vs. 1-6)
  2. Human custom requires support to workers (v. 7) – A farmer is privileged to eat its fruit.  The shepherd can get milk and meat from the flock.  The pastor is like a soldier who protects the church and battle Stan.  He is a farmer who tends the spiritual field and he is a shepherd who leads and feed the sheep.
  3. The Old Testament Law (vs. 8-10) – The Old Testament practise let the oxen walk on the field to separate grain from the chaff.  If oxen benefits from its physical work, should not God’s servants benefit from their spiritual work?
  4. The Old Testament Priests (vs. 12-14) – The law allowed the priest to be shared generously in the sacrifices from the altar.
  5. Christ’s command (v. 14) – The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

REASONS WHY PAUL DID NOT USE HIS PRIVILEGE:

  1. He wanted to work for Christ as his master voluntarily (v. 17)
  2. He wanted to offer the gospel free of charge (v. 18)
  3. He wanted to share his blessings for the sake of the gospel (v. 23)
  4. He wanted to gain a lasting reward(v. 25)

THOUGHTS:

  1. Paul was willing to give up high rights to win people to Christ.  Let us focus on living for Christ so that our rights will become unimportant.
  2. Jesus said that workers deserve their wages.  Paul urged the church to pay Christian workers. We have the responsibility to care for God’s servants and compensate them fairly and adequately.
  3. Paul utilized his freedom and discipline as tools to be used in God’s service.  Let us use our freedom and discipline to glorify God and bring people to Christ.
  4. Christian life takes hard work, self-denial and grueling preparation.  We have to train diligently to be able to run with vigor in attaining spiritual progress.
  5. Servants of the Lord must be faithful till the end.  He must be like runners who runs in such a way as to get the prize.  He must keep himself from being  he disqualified.