Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 17
In our message, BALANCED FREEDOM MOTIVATED BY LOVE (1 Cor. 9:1-19), Paul continued responding to the Corinthian church’s question on Christian freedom with respect to foods in the marketplace of their day (1 Cor. 8:1, 4). Paul now holds himself up as an example of a person who possesses certain rights but willingly set some of them aside in Corinth to have a more effective gospel witness (1 Cor. 9:1-2; Rom. 1:16, etc.).
Like the “knowledgeable” brothers of chapter 8, Paul had freedoms too, including all rights pertaining to “an apostle of Jesus Christ [because he had been called and appointed to that position] through the will of God” (1 Cor. 1:1; 9:1a, 19; 15:7-8, etc.). Jesus likewise possesses enormous authority, yet He willingly set aside some of His privilege to become a human being, and a servant of all to die for our sins on the cross so people could be saved (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Phil. 2:5-8, etc.). But setting aside certain privileges DOES NOT change the fact that Jesus Christ is still God and always will remain the Lord (Phil. 2:9-11, etc.). Likewise, Paul setting aside his apostolic right to be paid by the church in Corinth did not change the fact that he was indeed an apostle who had seen the resurrected the Lord when He walked the earth the first time (which is a requirement for being an apostle, 1 Cor. 9:1b; Acts 1:21-22; 1 John 1:1, etc.) and founded the church in Corinth which was proof of that truth as the apostles and New Testament prophets revealed the mystery of the church in that time when they laid its “foundation” (1 Cor. 9:2; Eph. 2:20; 3:5; Heb. 1:1, etc.).
Sadly, some in the Corinthian church falsely concluded Paul was not an apostle because he did not exercise some of his rights. The Holy Spirit corrects this here defending Paul’s apostleship (1 Cor. 9:3). Just like baby Jesus in the manger remained fully God when He became a human being, Paul also remained fully an apostle- even though he provided for his own food out of love (1 Cor. 9:4) and could have married- demanding resources for his wife and family also- like “the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and [Peter]” (1 Cor. 9:5). And Paul states clearly here he had the “right to refrain from working,” as an apostle, having the church provide for his physical needs (1 Cor. 9:6).
Paul next clarifies why he is entitled to this right- even though in his unique case, in Corinth, he willingly set it aside:
- First everyday experience teaches us a workman deserves some reward for his labor (Luke 10:7, etc.). If a man is drafted to be a soldier, the government pays his wages and provides necessary gear for him; the man who plants a vineyard also gets to eat the fruit; and a shepherd or herdsman of a flock has the right to use the milk and resources from those animals (1 Cor. 9:7).
- Not only does ‘common sense’ show us this is true but God’s Word does as well: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain” (1 Cor. 9:8-9, 1 Tim. 5:17-18; a quotation of Deut. 25:4). While it would be cruel to not feed one’s animals, the Holy Spirit explains here God is writing this “for our sakes, no doubt” (1 Cor. 9:9-10). This is a proverbial expression, much like our modern adage, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.’ Just like we sometimes use that expression without dogs in view, the ox in Deuteronomy 25:4 is used here to picture the apostles (and by implication other ministers of God’s Word today). We should provide for the needs of ministers of the Bible, so people can be provided for because all Christians are “partakers” of the same heavenly promises (1 Cor. 3:13-15; 9:10; Heb. 1:9, etc.). Scripture teaches clearly the whole body of Christ will suffer if God’s Word is not in the center of everything (2 Tim. 3:16-17); It is only through the Word of God that people can be saved, and it is also only through the Bible that people can be discipled and grow in the grace and knowledge of God (2 Pet. 1:16-21; 3:17-18, etc.).
- Third, people who are blessed by “spiritual things” should share “material things” (1 Cor. 9:11). We see this principle with many non-Jewish people giving back materially to the church in Jerusalem from whom the true God came (Rom. 15:25-27). And it is repeated today in the Bible for local churches around the world (Gal. 6:6-10). Only what God does through us will last and go into His kingdom (Eph. 5:18; 1 Cor. 3:13-15). We should be heavenly minded so we can possess the true riches God wants to give us that surpasses all understanding (Col. 3:1-4; Luke 16:11, etc.).
- Fourth, Old Testament practice was providing for the priests from offerings brought to the temple (1 Cor. 9:13), and furthermore, Jesus “has commanded that those who preach the gospel [today] should [also] live from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14).
Additionally, in Paul’s unique case, as the founder of the church in Corinth, he had “even more” right to ask for pay than the other apostles and workers there (1 Cor. 9:12). Instead he worked extra jobs and even “‘robbed’ other churches by accepting their contributions so [he] could serve [Corinth] at no cost” (2 Cor. 11:8 NLT). Why did he do this? Why did he lay aside his right as an apostle to be paid at Corinth?
Paul continues to explain: it was for heavenly “reward” (1 Cor. 3:13-14; 9:18). Paul had already been commanded by God in his specific calling as an apostle, born out of due time, to share the gospel throughout the Roman world in the “stewardship” or dispensation given to him (1 Cor. 9:17; 15:8; Acts 9:1-18, etc.). This is why he wrote “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16). But, by willingly giving up his rights, the gospel was made more effective through him as he imaged Christ (1 Cor. 9:12), and Paul knew it involved great “reward” which he joyfully looked forward to (1 Cor. 9:15-18; Heb. 12:2; 13:13-16, etc.).
We also have great reward in our lives when we willingly set aside the ‘rights’ the Lord leads us to so Christ can shine powerfully through us (Eph. 5:18; Heb. 12:28-29; Rom. 1:16; 12:1-2, etc.). Paul was sold out for Christ with “the world… crucified to [him], and [him] to the world” (Gal. 1:10; 2:20; 6:14, etc.). He was “free from all” so he could “make [himself] a slave to all” (1 Cor. 9:19 NET). In what ways can we sacrifice and set aside our ‘rights’ today to also reach the lost and build one another up in Christ’s holy love? (1 Cor. 8:1; 9:19; Eph. 4:15-16; Rom. 12:9, etc.)