SACRIFICING RIGHTS FOR REWARDS
1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-27
NASB
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4[a]Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5[a]Do we not have a right to take along a [b]believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or do only [a]Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? 7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not [a]use the milk of the flock?
8 I am not speaking these things according to [a]human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? 10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share [a]from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
15 But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under [a]the Law, as under [a]the Law though not being myself under [a]the Law, so that I might win those who are under [a]the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I [a]discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
9:4 [a]Lit It is not that we have no right to eat and drink, is it? 9:5 [a]Lit It is not that we have no right to take along...Cephas, is it? [b]Lit sister, as wife 9:6 [a]Lit I and Barnabas 9:7 [a]Lit eat of 9:8 [a]Lit man 9:13 [a]Lit with 9:20 [a]Or law 9:27 [a]Lit bruise
NLT
1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.
3 This is my answer to those who question my authority.[*] 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife[*] with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter[*] does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”[*] Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.
11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,[*] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
[9:3] Greek those who examine me. [9:5a] Greek a sister a wife. [9:5b] Greek Cephas. [9:9] Deut 25:4. [9:21] Greek those without the law.
Imagine this scene. You’re a member of a baseball team playing its most important game of the season. It’s the bottom of the ninth inning. The score is tied, the bases loaded, there are no outs, and you are up to bat.
Taking a few practice swings on your way to the batter’s box, you look down at the third base coach for the signal. Expecting a “swing away” sign, you begin to churn inside when he dips his hat, wipes his nose, and then licks his thumb: the dreaded “sacrifice fly” signal.[45]
“What does the coach mean?” you think to yourself. “He expects me to fly out on purpose so the team can score? What about my .350 batting average? Give me a few swings and I can knock this ball out of the park. We’ll win by four runs instead of one, and most of all, I’ll end the game in a blaze of glory —just like Robert Redford in The Natural!”
So you’re faced with a decision. Will you sacrifice your right to hit the ball wherever you please in order to let another teammate get a run? Or will you grab for the glory by attempting to hit it out of the park?
As we have already seen, the Corinthian team suffered from envy, selfishness, pride, and strife. Each member’s viewpoint reflected a distinct, isolated player, giving little thought to how one player’s actions would affect the rest of the team. In 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, Paul shows us the attitudes they practiced —their pep cheer was “I’ve got my rights!” Then, in a dugout talk, Paul exhorts the team to model his own strategy for victory: placing the needs of the body of Christ above personal rights. Only when they began to compete in the contest of life as members of a team rather than as independent players looking out only for themselves would they be eligible for eternal rewards.
— 9:1-2 —
The Corinthians had been liberated by Christ to live in freedom from the Law (Gal. 5:1), and they were intent on exercising their newfound rights. But if there was an upside-down way of doing something, the Corinthians would find it. They had used their freedom to feed their egos and fleshly desires, spending their liberty on selfish pursuits. Rather than bolstering their team members in the body of Christ, they demanded their rights. So, Paul challenges their attitude by arguing from the greater to the lesser. If Paul himself sacrificed his rights as an apostle, then how is it that the church members at Corinth could insist on having their rights honored?
Paul begins by simply listing his credentials, the highlights of his résumé with which his readers were thoroughly familiar (1 Cor. 9:1-2). He was a believer freed from the Law, a handpicked apostle of God, an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ, and a laborer who had borne fruit for the kingdom.
Not one of the Corinthian believers could argue against his stats. If it hadn’t been for Paul’s ministry in their city, they would have remained lost. To return to our baseball analogy, it’s as if Paul, the manager of the team, were to pick up a bat and approach the plate. He of all people had the right to do as he pleased on that playing field, far more than any of the members of the team who were not coaches or managers.
From My Journal
A Biblical Basis for Paying Your Pastor
1 CORINTHIANS 9:9
Occasionally one hears complaints about the “professionalization” of the ministry. This often comes from those who believe church leaders should minister free of charge. Some churches have even done away with what they style “the clergy class,” opting for a plurality of lay leaders, no pastors, and definitely no paid leadership positions. Sometimes people even claim that the original churches were only house churches, small communities run by the older men of the church, and that the idea of a trained, ordained, and paid professional reflects a fall away from the original New Testament ideal.
Such views, however, don’t stand up under biblical scrutiny.
In 1 Corinthians 9:9-11, Paul makes the case that ministry workers were to be compensated with material things for their spiritual work (9:11). Only a fool would muzzle an ox to keep it from eating while plowing the fields (9:9). So only foolish churches would hold back a fair wage from those engaged in the work of the ministry. In fact, the wage was expected to be enough to free up a minister from having to work outside the ministry setting —and to provide for familial needs (9:4-6).
Paul also addresses the issue of paying church leaders when he spells out some of the basics of pastoral ministry in 1 Timothy 5:17-18. He writes, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” From this passage we see that the principle of paying laborers in church ministry extended beyond the apostles and itinerant missionaries. Local church leaders (the elders) who committed a significant amount of their time to teaching and preaching were also to be compensated materially.
— 9:3-14 —
In order to set an example, Paul offers what he calls a “defense,” or apologia [627] for his practice, just in case some might judge him or criticize him for his methods of doing ministry (9:3). The term apologia basically means “an answer” or “explanation,” so Paul begins to explain himself, giving the logic of his perspective on self-sacrificial ministry. Just as Paul has listed his credentials, he also underlines the rights that go along with his high position: the right to sufficient food and drink (9:4); the right to bring a family along on ministry travel (9:5); and the right to draw ministry support from those to whom he ministers (9:6-11).
In other words, as an apostle, Paul had the right to expect full material and financial support for himself (and a family, if he had one). Other ministers of the gospel, such as James, Jude, and Cephas, had exercised this right to a living wage in their own apostolic ministries (9:5). Like the Old Testament priests who were granted the right to eat some of the sacrifice of the altar (9:13), the Lord desires those who preach the gospel to earn their living through the offerings of those to whom they minister (9:14).
Although Paul was fully entitled to exercise these rights, he voluntarily chose to sacrifice them. He opted to “endure all things” so that he would not cause any “hindrance to the gospel of Christ” (9:12). How would Paul’s acceptance of his right to ministry support place an obstacle in the path of the Corinthians’ acceptance of the gospel? William Barclay provides a possible answer: “Men judge a message by the life and character of the man who brings it; and Paul was determined that his hands would be clean. He would allow nothing in his life to contradict the message of his lips. Someone once said to a preacher, ‘I cannot hear what you say for listening to what you are.’ No one could ever say that to Paul.”[46]
The world in which Paul ministered had been overrun by charlatans, opportunists, and soothsayers who were “in it for the money.” The market was flooded with all kinds of philosophical and religious claims, each peddled by teachers who wanted to be paid for access to their enlightened ideas. If Paul had stepped into Corinth taking up a love offering every time he preached his message, the good news of Jesus Christ would have been immediately associated with the fakes.
— 9:15-18 —
Even though Paul had the right to earn a living from the gospel ministry, he wisely chose to surrender this for a greater good. By doing so, Paul was able to prove through his lifestyle that he was completely sold out to the gospel. The gospel itself was enough to compel him to preach (9:16). He needed no laud and honor, no applause from his audience, and definitely no remuneration.
I’m often asked by young Christians wrestling with whether they are being called into a career of vocational Christian ministry, “How do I know if God’s calling me to preach?” I often answer, “If you can imagine yourself being content doing anything else, do that instead.” Paul said that if he didn’t preach the gospel he would be miserable (9:16). For Paul, his ministry wasn’t an unwanted burden, like somebody who had been drafted into the military to fight in a war not personally supported. Paul had voluntarily enlisted by his own free will, surrendering his life —and his rights —to full-time service of the gospel (9:17).
So willing and eager was Paul to preach the gospel that he saw this privilege as a reward in itself: “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel” (9:18). These words were not intended to fill the Corinthians’ eyes with awe as the people considered Paul’s altruistic approach to life. They were meant to instill needed guilt in those who had been arrogantly asserting their rights over others. In a church renowned for its selfishness, Paul’s contrasting example of selflessness would have shocked those who had the eyes to see.
— 9:19-23 —
I am convinced that we haven’t really begun to live the devoted Christian life until Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19 can become our words: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.” As Christians, we have the right to use our liberty and position in Christ to enjoy all God has for us. But we also have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the gospel and building up other Christians in the faith. This necessarily calls for humility, sacrifice, and teamwork (Eph. 4:1-16).
Paul develops this thought further, describing some specific ways he gave up his personal identity, preferences, and practices for the sake of others (1 Cor. 9:20-22). When he preached the gospel to Jews, he altered his lifestyle so as not to offend those to whom he was ministering (9:20). When he preached to Gentiles who had no interest in the Law and what they perceived as the “fussiness” of Jewish rules and regulations, Paul lived in a way that wouldn’t distract them from the grace of God (9:21). To outcasts, sick, downtrodden, and poor, Paul determined to live with little so the focus would remain on Jesus Christ alone (9:22). Without compromising the truths of the gospel or the holy life of a follower of Jesus Christ, Paul altered his practice on neutral issues such as eating and drinking, cultural norms, or styles of worship, all “for the sake of the gospel,” in order to “by all means save some” (9:22-23).
THE ISTHMIAN GAMES
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul draws on Greek athletic imagery to illustrate the self-discipline he employs in order to gain the eternal prize. Corinth was within 10 miles of the site of the popular Isthmian Games, which were held both the year before and the year following the Olympic Games —twice every four years. Our modern Olympic games are modeled after these ancient athletic contests, which included competitions in chariot racing, wrestling, boxing, music, and poetry.[47] Although the participation was traditionally limited to Greeks, Romans were allowed to compete after 228 BC.[48]
Thus, by Paul’s day, these games attracted both competitors and spectators from the entire Roman Empire, which only increased their popularity and profitability. According to the ancient historian Strabo, these games brought much commercial prosperity to the local economy.[49] Certainly, an athletic custom of such magnitude and importance could not fail to appeal to the Corinthians’ imagination as an analogy for Paul’s struggle for self-mastery.
One striking contrast Paul made had to do with the prize that so many athletes strove to win, versus the prize he sought. Ancient Greek athletes who won in the Isthmian Games were given a wreath made out of either celery or pine. But Paul sought to discipline himself in order to win an imperishable prize. His readers would have understood this argument from lesser to greater, as they were well aware of the self-denial and disciplined training athletes endured in order even to be eligible to enter the competitions.
— 9:24-27 —
Paul describes here (9:24-27) in vivid imagery the life of a go-for-broke minister of the gospel, one who has not only given up creature comforts for the sake of the ministry but has given up all things for the sake of the call. He did this in view of eternal, not temporal, rewards. These verses drip with the sweat of athletes. You can almost hear their grunts and groans as you read these colorful words.
While reflecting on the Christian life, Paul used an illustration familiar to all of his readers: the renowned Isthmian Games held near Corinth every other year. Such imagery would have resonated with his Corinthian readers as Paul taught them to become spiritual victors focused on their heavenly rewards.
Throughout this passage, it’s important to remember that Paul isn’t talking about working hard to earn salvation. The whole context is selfless participation in ministry by those already saved. Paul uses an athletic illustration to explain that not all Christians will be rewarded equally for the way they lived and invested their time, energy, and resources. Paul already has informed the Corinthians (3:12-15) that some will appear before Christ’s judgment seat expecting a pat on the back for a job well done, but when their works are tested with fire, they will all be burned to ashes. These believers will never receive crowns from the Lord for faithful service.
Other Christians, however, who serve selflessly, will be rewarded for the spiritual good they accomplished during their sacrificial earthly marathon (2 Cor. 5:9-10). So Paul encourages his readers to compete like dedicated athletes, saying, “Run in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor. 9:24). Anybody can receive a number, enter a race, and be included as part of the team. But only those who finish the race will receive recognition and reward.
Paul expressly contrasts the earthly reward expected in the Isthmian Games with the eternal, heavenly reward expected by faithful ministers of the gospel, those who have “self-control in all things” (9:25). He powerfully argues from the lesser to the greater, from the useless to the priceless: If those rewarded with a withering wreath disciplined their bodies until they hurt, how much more should believers discipline their lives for heavenly rewards?
In 9:26-27, Paul stops using the plural term “we” and speaks in the first-person singular, “I,” using himself as a model. As he runs the spiritual race, he doesn’t stop for anything. He keeps the goal in mind, which allows him to avoid unnecessary distractions and foolish pursuits, lest he become like a runner sprinting in the wrong direction or a boxer wildly swinging at the air (9:26). Paul knew that the potent temptations of the world threaten to draw our attention away from the greater calling. It takes discipline to avoid their allurements —the kind of self-control that allows us to cross the finish line victoriously or leave the boxing ring on our feet instead of on our backs (9:27).
APPLICATION: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1-27
Batter Up!
A hush falls over the dugout. The fans in the stands have cut their chatter and all eyes focus on you. But only two eyes concern you —the third-base coach is staring through you, repeating the signal for “sacrifice” one last time.
The umpire breaks the silence: “Play ball!”
You have been here before. This time, what will you do? Will you yield your right to swing at any pitch however you want? Will you strive for a home run to impress all those fans holding up signs with your name on them? Or will you follow your coach’s signal and sacrifice your run to first base so that somebody else can make the winning run and be cheered as the hero?
Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 9 calls each of us not only to “take one for the team” but to give everything we have for it. We must always put the love of Christ and the love of His body, the church, above our own interests. At times, this means giving up virtually everything —our rights to exercise our Christian liberty, our rights to choose our own paths in life, our rights to convenience, to comfort, and to happiness. It always means pouring ourselves out on the spiritual altar as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), forsaking debilitating sins and foolish distractions for the sake of the kingdom.
Nobody wants to lose in the race of life. So, why do so many of us do things that are guaranteed to leave us empty-handed when Christ takes His seat and hands out heavenly rewards? Why do we fail to do the things we know we’re called to do?
Simple: We forget our purpose. We run life’s race haphazardly, forgetting the goal of self-surrendered Christlikeness set before us. Unprepared, fatigued, muscles taut, wearing our hiking boots, we run wherever we want, ignoring the path He has set before us, forgetting the prize He offers for faithfulness.
One commentator of a bygone era puts it eloquently:
We go and take our place in the course as though the prize could be won without any running at all, or as if there were no prize worth running for. We dream and loiter and fold our arms; we turn aside to look at every object of passing interest; or if we did begin with some vigour, all the zest and warmth of the struggle grows feebler and fainter when it ought to become more animated, and . . . we care little what hindrances occur to stop our course, and to risk a dishonourable fall.[50]
Whether we relate best to the metaphor of the all-star batter or the marathon runner, Paul’s exhortation to us today remains the same: Only when we sacrifice our personal, individual rights in this life will we be eligible for rewards in the next. What a hard thing to do —how rarely it occurs! Each day we have to choose how we will play in the game of the Christian life. Will we play as a star, making our own decisions, pursuing our own paths? Or will we throw ourselves into the game as a faithful member of a team, looking out for others? The decision is a tough one, and it is one that must be made daily.
To help turn our attitudes into actions, let’s step into the dugout and hear the ninth-inning instructions from the coach. Study Romans 12; in the left box, note what Paul commands us to do. Then, in the right box, jot down at least three ideas about how you can take action in obedience to these commands.
PAUL’S COMMANDS |
YOUR RESPONSES |