I Corinthians Chapter 9
Paul understood that the most important purpose of his life was to fulfill what God had called him to do and that was to preach the gospel. He was determined to do what God called him to do despite persecution, opposition and dislike for his personal stand on righteousness. He desired both Jews and Gentiles to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he wanted to see those believers grow in their walk with the Lord.
Paul wrote that as a servant of the gospel he had every right to be supported financially by the churches, yet he never asked them for that help. He never wanted to be a stumbling block to new believers. Paul worked as much as he could to support himself. Many of the churches supported him graciously, but the church at Corinth looked down on Paul and they did not help him. It is their attitude of a selfish heart that Paul addresses.
Let's Reflect
1. Paul began with his authority. Paul said he was not under anyone’s authority except Jesus Christ. What authority did Paul have to be preaching the gospel?
2. The church at Corinth was proof that he had this authority because there were many lives that were changed, they became believers. The fact that people got saved under Paul’s preaching was proof of what?
3. In Acts 26 the account of Paul seeing the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus was proof that he was commissioned with Christ’s authority to spread the gospel. Yet the church at Corinth doubted his authority as an apostle. In fact, they seemed to disrespect him and Barnabas because they did not ask for financial help. Paul had previously spent a lot of time with this church. He poured into them the truths of the Word of God. This should have caused the church to do what? See verse 11.
4. Are ministers of the gospel to be paid by the church? See verse 14.
5. Paul never asked for financial help. Why?
6. He had a huge heart to reach the lost with the gospel. He said that he had made himself a servant to all people. He even kept Jewish laws when trying to reach Jewish people to the gospel so that they would not be offended and reject the gospel. Paul knew that he was free in Jesus but subjected himself to many different things for one special purpose. What is that purpose as seen in verse 19?
7. Paul views his time on earth as a race for Christ. This is certainly not an easy race, but one that must be endured. He understood that he only had a short amount of time on the earth to win as many people as he could to the gospel of Jesus. Like an athlete who practices a disciplined lifestyle, Paul said that he kept his body disciplined as well for the race. Because at the end of the race there is what?
Devotionals
