1 Corinthians (Written)

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

…and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 1 Corinthians 9:20

This verse begins to explain his previous verse where he said, “I have made myself a servant to all.” He will defend this thought for three verses and give a summary in the fourth. As a “servant to all, he showed himself to the Jew as becoming as a Jew. He did this, as he says, “that I might win Jews.” In Philippians 3:4, 5, he says this –

“If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews.”

Paul was neither overly proud of his Israelite heritage, nor did he run from it. He held it in its proper place and to those around him, he lived as a Jew so that they could see there was no conflict between his national status and his faith in Christ. If through such a presentation of his life and heritage he could convince some that his Christian faith was the right, natural, and logical path for the Jew, then he was willing to use that approach.

But there was another aspect of him which he addresses in this verse. He goes on to say that “to those who are under the law” he became “as under the law.” And again, he gives the same reason, “that I might win those who are under the law.” Continuing on in Philippians 3:5, 6, he said –

“…concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

Not only did he conduct himself in a way where he continued to live faithfully within his national heritage, but he did it as one who was obedient to the religious heritage of that national identity as well. There were many observant Jews in his time. They lived under the Law of Moses and followed the edicts of those placed above them.

Likewise, some of them lived within the strictest sects of the faith, as Pharisees or Sadducees. These people were those who were considered by others as the epitome of righteousness within the society at that time. Regardless of whether this was actually the case, because Paul originally came from them, he had the ability to demonstrate his obedience to the Law of Moses while at the same time showing that it in no way conflicted with his faith in Christ.

Unlike Peter who was actually unfaithful to the real principles of freedom in Christ while being observant as a Jew, Paul was able to work within both realms without showing any contradiction or hypocrisy between the two. And how could he do this? He gave up his freedoms in order to be a servant to all. This is exactly what his previous many verses were leading up to which concerned his true apostleship and the fact that though he deserved recompense for it, he didn’t use that right. He was a man who meticulously fit his life into every category he could in order to win some to Christ.

Life application: In Paul’s time, some Jews viewed themselves from a point of national identity. Others viewed themselves from a point of religious identity. This is still true today within the Jewish race. Should you have the chance to talk to a Jew, be he an observant Jew or a “national Jew” you can still show, directly from the Bible, that there is no conflict between their Jewish connection and the truth of Christianity. It can be extremely difficult to change their thoughts on this for many reasons, but it is possible. More than anything else, prayer and patience is needed. One cannot force Christianity onto another, but through the word of God, through a loving attitude, and through heartfelt prayer, it can come about.

Heavenly Father, Your word is a word for all people. It is the message of hope and reconciliation for both Jew and Gentile, for men and women, for young and old, and for the smartest person or the one lacking any education at all. It is one that can touch any and all who are willing to set aside their pride and humble themselves before the One who came to grant peace and reconciliation between You and us, our Lord Jesus. Help me to tactfully and wisely handle this word so that those I meet along the way will see the glory of Jesus and call out to Him in faith. Amen.

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 1 Corinthians 9:19

The word “for” begins Paul’s thought. It is then building upon his previous discussion. He said that he preached through “necessity,” as one bound under a master and that his reward was solely in the preaching of the gospel. Hence, “for” shows an extra weightiness in what he will now say. “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all.”

Paul had no person that he was bound to. He was a Roman citizen and thus free within the Roman society. He was also liberated from the bondage of the law by Christ and had no person over him in Jerusalem. He was not accountable to the Sanhedrin or to the high priest. He had no boss over him. Instead, he made tents while working with his own hands. And he preached the gospel without recompense from those he preached it to. Thus, he was not bound to any person or group within the church. He was free from obligation to any and all humans as far as a society could consider a person.

And yet, despite his exceptional freedoms, he willingly made himself “a servant to all.” The word translated as “servant” is douloo and is more appropriately to be rendered “slave” in this context – “I have enslaved myself to all.” What would be the reason for such a choice? Why would this man, free from all constraints, decide to treat everyone around him as a master to whom he was indebted? His reason shows a beautifully pure desire for that which freed him on the road to Damascus – “that I might win the more.”

The sole desire of Paul’s life of work and toil was to bring others to Christ. His refusal to accept payment was because he was showing his status as one who is actually a slave to Jesus Christ. In this position, he was thus allowing himself to be considered a slave to any and all who might call on Him. It is the mark of a truly selfless individual who understood what it meant to be “in Christ” both for himself and those around him.

Life application: To what extent are you willing to spread the gospel? Are you willing to give up on sleep in order to get up early and prepare for the day’s battle? Are you willing to forgo lunch if it means an opportunity to tell someone about your faith. Will you give up on payment for your efforts, or will you even be willing to spend money out of your own pocket to share your faith? What is Christ worth to you? At one time you were without Him, but someone took the time to lead you to Him. Now that right and privilege is yours. Don’t squander it!

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help
Whose hope is in the Lord his God
Who made heaven and earth
Even the beautiful earth where man does trod

Also He made the rich and abundant sea
And all that is in each of them as well
He is the great and wondrous God of glory
As the wisdom of His creation does tell

He is the God who keeps truth forever
Who executes justice for the oppressed
Who gives food to the hungry
The Lord to weary souls He gives rest

Lord, who is it that can look up into the heavens and not see Your wisdom on display? Who is it that fails to see Your marvelous hand in the many creatures that walk the earth? Lord, who can deny the intricacy of how all the earth is balanced ever so perfectly so that even its wounds are healed and new life springs from them? Lord, open the eyes of such a person and show them that You are there, calling to them. Reveal Yourself and Your majesty by opening eyes that are blind. Amen.

Monday, 15 September 2014

What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:18

Paul noted already that “necessity” was laid upon him to preach the gospel and that he had no expectation of a reward of compensation from those he preached to. However, this doesn’t mean there was no reward at all in his preaching, and so he asks, “What is my reward then?” There is always a reward for fulfilling one’s duties.

If a person has a job and he fulfills his duties, he will receive wages for doing that job. However, if he is a slave, he won’t receive any wages. Nevertheless, he has a reward. If he has a harsh master and he fails to work, the master may beat him. His reward then when doing his job is to simply not be beaten. If he has a kind master who would never beat him, he will still lose his reward if he fails to work. It will be whatever punishment the master decides upon. But being a kind and gentle master, when the slave does his job, the reward may be a smile, a thumbs up, or a thank you. Though none are required, they are a reward in and of themselves.

But there is also the reward of merely doing the job because it is a job that the slave loves. He loves his master, he loves the type of work he is doing, and he loves that it gets done. The satisfaction is in the doing. This is Paul’s reward. As he says, “That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge.” Because he had necessity laid upon him, he followed through with that which impelled him and he found satisfaction in that. Had he asked for or received any wages for his work, then it would mean he was being rewarded for something he had to do. In this, there would be a taking advantage of his rights in a way which he felt was inappropriate. Instead, he refused this right, as he says, “that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Life application: If you are employed and have set wages and benefits which you regularly receive, then you are receiving what you agreed on when you took the job. If you are offered something from an outside contractor to “help” you make your mind up about something which would affect the company you worked for, then you would be abusing your position within your company. Paul stood fast on the gospel. If he received something for his preaching, then others could claim that they had an influence on his doctrine, whether it was true or not. Others are always evaluating our actions and we are asked to be upright in our dealings with those we come in contact with. This is an expectation of the follower of Christ.

Lord, there are principles which I believe – in my faith, in my morals, in my politics, and in other aspects of my life as well. They are what define me when others look at me. Help me to not be perceived as one who would compromise my principles, but to stand fast on them regardless of anything that challenges me in them. Above all, may this be true for my faith in Christ and in the teaching of Your word. Help me Lord to never compromise the doctrine which establishes me as Your servant. Amen.

Sunday, 14 September 2014

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 1 Corinthians 9:17

In his previous comment, Paul said, “I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” Therefore, this verse now follows logically from that thought. If necessity is laid upon him (meaning if he was compelled by a force he could not contain), then no reward should be expected. As he says, “For if I do this willingly, I have a reward.”

Suppose he wasn’t compelled to preach, but rather did it of his own free will. In such a case, he could expect a reward. When he showed up in a town such as Corinth, whatever pay they offered would be this reward and it would be his just due. However, this isn’t the case with him and so he enters the word “but.” This portion will explain the position he is actually in which is, “if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.”

Using a hypothetical (which is what applies to him) he shows that if one is under constraint to do something, they have been given a directive which is their obligation to fulfill. In this sense, he is likening himself to a bondservant (a term he specifically refers to himself as elsewhere). A bondservant is told what to do and he does it. No pay is expected for such services. Rather, the reward merely rests in pleasing the master of the house.

Like the bondservant, Paul’s efforts in the gospel ministry were not for expected pay, but to fulfill an obligation that he was bound under. The reward is not from the work, but from the approval of the one who assigns the work. His approval and His reward is found in Christ, not in what he can gain from proclaiming Christ.

Life application: The more freedom one has realized in Christ, the more indebted to Christ the person must naturally feel. Paul’s freedom from persecuting the church led him to an attitude of complete servitude to Christ. Some are freed from alcohol, some from drugs or murder or prostitution. Everyone will feel a different level of gratitude and willingness to return to the Lord a measure of appreciation. The question for each is, “How much do I feel I have gained in being saved by Christ?” The level of appreciation should be reflected in the level of willing return to the Lord without thought of receiving something for the effort put forth.

Heavenly Father, the day You opened my eyes to Jesus, I realized the magnitude of the guilt I bore in Your presence. And with it, I realized the immense forgiveness I received through His death in my place. May the work I do for the cause of Christ be acceptable to You, but I know that no matter how much I put forth, it will never be even minutely close to the debt I have been forgiven. Please, never let me forget the significance of the cross, but to set my eyes, heart, and feet on the road of sharing this wondrous message, even if it means I give all in the process. He died for me, I will live for Him until I die! Amen.

Saturday, 13 September 2014

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16

In his previous words, Paul tied the very continuance of his life in with the preaching of the gospel. He does this elsewhere as well. In Philippians 1, he wrote that there were two paths ahead of him. One was to depart and be with Christ (meaning he would die) and the second was that he would remain and continue preaching the gospel and teaching those he was a minister to. Here are his words –

“I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.” Philippians 1:23-26

If his life was literally tied to the performance of his gospel preaching, then how could he boast in preaching? One cannot boast in taking breaths, one cannot boast in the beating of the heart, and one cannot boast in the need to eat food. These are necessary things for the continuance of the person. Likewise, Paul could not boast in the preaching of the gospel. It was to him simply a necessity. Jeremiah felt the same burden –

“Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.” Jeremiah 20:9

Jeremiah could not hold back what he was impelled to do without dying. If he were to hold back from food, he would die. Likewise, if he held back from speaking out the word of the Lord, his end would come. This is what Paul felt as well. As he says, “for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” As this was so, then how could he boast in his efforts in the gospel, the very thing that sustained his life? Rather, he had a boast in the gospel itself, not in his conveyance of it. In Galatians, he explicitly states this –

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

Life application: If you have been called by Christ, then you have a calling in Christ. The question is, have you allowed that calling to take root? A plant can only survive if it receives the nourishment it derives through its roots. And even if it survives, the amount it flourishes is derived externally as well – soil, water, sun, pruning, etc, all determine the health of the plant. Are you using your external sources properly – the Bible, prayer, fellowship, etc? Determine today to let nothing hinder you in developing your calling in Christ.

Heavenly Father, I know that a plant cannot be sustained unless it is fed through its roots. I also know that it can only flourish and thrive in good soil, the right amount of sun and water, and with proper pruning. As I know this by simply observing how the plant responds, then isn’t this a truth that applies to me as well? How can I thrive in my walk with You unless I drink from Your word, commune with You in prayer, and fellowship with others who can build me up? I know it cannot happen without these things, so please keep me in the good field which provides these things. Amen.