All for All

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

ALL FOR ALL

1 Cor 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 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. 21 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. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

NIV

The point here is that we should not hold so fast, be so rigid in our way of doing things that we make everyone feel so uncomfortable around us that they what absolutely nothing at all to do with the gospel. Does that mean we have to forfeit our beliefs? Absolutely not, Paul sure didn’t, but he lived with love in his heart toward all men, so as to win them to Christ. We need to be able to identify with people, no matter their background, or current situation in life. If they dress different then we so, if they wear their hair with funny colors streaked through it, if they smoke and drink, if they use foul language, if they are covered in tattoos, or have face jewelry, if they have body odor, we need to love them, identify with where they are so as to share Christ with them. If they are super intelligent, if believe in numerology, if they believe God is a woman, if they chose to believe there is no God, if they think we are weak minded and use religion as a crutch, we need to be able to identify with them, recognize where they are coming from so we can share the gospel in a way that it makes sense to them, in order to win them to Christ. But if we stand with our arms folded, our minds closed, holding them in contempt because they do not believe in Christ, passing judgment on them as sinners, we are foolish and weak minded. If all we can do is conduct conversations about the gospel, we limit our opportunities to engage with those who need Jesus. If we hold them off at arm’s length because they are different then we are, we will never be able to hug them with the love of Christ. If we can learn to be like Paul, and identify with them, understand where they are coming from, know their struggle, which requires getting to know them, sending time with them, then we might share the love of Christ with them. Were we not once one of them? Maybe we do not consider that we ever were like them, that we were born saved, lived a pure and holy life from our first breathe, but that simply is not so. Have we forgotten from where we came? All things for all people. 

Compelled

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

COMPELLED

1 Cor 9:15-18

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.

NIV

What then are we to think? We have learned that a preacher has the right to make his living from the gospel, yet we also see here that at least Paul will not claim that right. Are to think that it is far better to preach the gospel without compensation? Was Paul the only one who was compelled to preach the gospel? Is that why he felt he has to do it voluntarily? Is that the same reason any of us do anything for the Kingdom of God? Do we voluntarily serve in whatever capacity we serve in because we are compelled to do so, or because we think that is what we are supposed to do? Do we serve in the church so others may see us serving, or because we think others expect that of us? Do we serve because we were asked to by the pastor or someone else in authority, or do we serve because we are compelled to by God? It would appear the only time a reward by God is available for our service to Him would be if we are doing it voluntarily because we are compelled by Him to serve. If we preach the gospel or serve in any way for any other reason it would make sense we have already received our reward. We may have the praise of men, but may not have the praise of God. If we preach the gospel or serve in some way looking for some sort of compensation then we are not offering our service for free. Should we be compensated in any way out of the free will of others without any expectation from us would be another thing, but to expect anything for what we do, is simply not acceptable. Do we think “Woe to me” if we are not doing something for the Kingdom of God? Do we actually think that, if all we do is just attend church and are not involved in some way to benefit the Kingdom? We have to be careful not to judge others by that standard, for we should only judge our own motives, our own thoughts, and our own reasons for what we do or what we do not do. Do we need a check up from the neck up? Are we or are we not compelled?

No Hindering

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

NO HINDERING

1 Cor 9:12-14

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

NIV

We probably should not be breaking this whole discussion about what to do about people who serve the Lord on what appears to be a full time basis, yet there are truths within each section for us to notice. Although Paul had just argued that he has just as much if not more right to support, he now says he does not use that right, so as to not hinder the gospel. What we must ask ourselves is whether we do anything which hinders the gospel. It appears Paul would put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel. What are we willing to put up with for the sake of the Gospel? Would we keep our mouths shut if insulted? Would we refrain from any activity if we knew a non-believer was watching and weighing the validity of the gospel based on us? Do we value our own being, our own self-worth more than the Gospel? If the gospel is the most valued thing we have, do we lock it up and keep it all for ourselves as we do with the valued material items we own, or do we give away to all those we come in contact with? Or do we expect our hirelings, those who preach the gospel and make their living from it, to do all the work? Another though about making a living from the gospel would be for all us of as we share the gospel with others, we do the Lords will and thus we are making a living, an eternal living from the gospel. But we know that salvation, eternal life is free, and thus that might not apply, but still an interesting thought. Nevertheless we must still consider this fact of hindering the gospel. We must examine our thoughts and our behaviors, our actions and reactions, in and out of the presence of others. The scripture says we are what we think. If we are not thinking correctly about the gospel we will not behave correctly either and thus might be guilty of hindering it. So then we need to think about actually putting up with anything and remain true to the gospel so as will not be a hindrance to it.  

Sowing and Reaping

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

SOWING AND REAPING

1 Cor 9:7-12

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

NIV

The continuation of his defense is within this passage but at the same time we also can see that it is appropriate for those who sown spiritual seeds to except to be supported by those who the seeds were sown. We cannot be sure if this was meant as a salary, or simply a free will offering. Of course today we have turned it into salaries and even incomes that are commensurate with the lifestyle of those who support them. We might even see that some seed sowers life much higher than those who support them. In fact we have seen some of those television “Evangelists” living so large it stagers the mind, and on the backs, or wallets, of those they have deceived. Yet we also have some “Men of the cloth” that shepherd such a same congregation that they have needed to find employment outside the church to help support their family and thus are only a “Sunday morning” pastor, perhaps an afterhours one. There is such a disparage in this principle of supporting those who sow spiritual seeds. Now again does this only apply to those who are considered hirelings of the church? What about all those people who spend so much of their time investing spiritual truths, sowing spiritual seeds among the children in Sunday schools?  Shouldn’t they be able to expect support? What about those others who spend so much time practicing to be a part of a band, or choir, in order to be a part of leading people into the throne room of God at the beginning of gatherings, shouldn’t they except some kind of support? What about all the others who serve in so many different ways, investing time and effort in order to help others gain some spiritual growth? Is this only about the hirelings? Are they the only ones who deserve to have support? Maybe we are looking at this principle in such a limited view we are missing the whole point. Should we not see that anyone who sows spiritual seeds among others is supposed to have some sort of material compensation from those who have gained from those people’s efforts, irrespective of position or title in the Body of Christ? But in our postmodern church that simple does not happen. What has happened to sowing and reaping?

How Should We Live?

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

HOW SHOULD WE LIVE

1 Cor 9:3-6

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

NIV

Why would Paul feel that others are sitting in judgment of him? Those in Corinth must be expecting Paul and Barnabas to live to a different standard then all the other leaders of the church. And although it seems this is about Paul, Barnabas, James, Peter and the others, it is also about us.  Do we have the right to sit in judgment of how others are living? Do we have the right to expect certain people to live in any different manner then we do? Do we expect those who are leaders in the church to have less in their lives then us? Do we expect anyone to have less sin in their life than us? Do we expect or think that we have less sin in our lives than others. Do we feel like others expect that of us? It would seem this is all about equality. We are all sinners saved by the grace of God. We are all the same in the eyes of God as He does not show favoritism. Yet in our humanism we set up rules and regulations for the correct behavior and life style of certain people without regard for that same expectation of ourselves.  How is that possible? Who made any of us superior to another? Who gave us the right to put any restrictions on others that we are not willing to abide by? We must all live under the same grace and thus all of us should be equal. There is another truth here in the sense that those who lead the church should be taken care of by the church. Now of course in our modern culture it done in quite a different manner then in those days. I am sure men like Peter, James, John and the others were not on staff pulling down a weekly income commensurate with their respective positions of authority. Paul certainly wasn’t as he worked to support himself, which he is questioning why he must when the others aren’t. Yet it does seem that it is appropriate that those who serve the Lord in full time ministry or for that matter in part time ministry should be taken care of by those who have incomes from the normal course of working for a living in other fields of endeavor and are paid according to their skills and labor. God does say that a laborer is deserving of his wages. Those who labor for the Lord should be paid accordingly, but of course the question is always about paid staff and then all those who labor for God, but hold no official position. How do we care for those who do so much for God and others yet must also work for their own living? Would that be like the question which Paul is asking here? Lots of questions, and not sure we have lots of answers. Yet we do live in a different era, a different cultural, and certainly a different church. But should we settle for that as the answer to our inequality and judgmental attitudes? How do we deal with this? Once again, how should we live? 

What Are We Doing?

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

1 Cor 9:1-2

9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

NIV

Alright who of us is or has known an apostle? Have any of us every seen Jesus our Lord? Are any of us the result of his work in the Lord? Do we serve as a seal to his apostleship? So then what can we learn from this for our life today? This section surely serves as a defense made by Paul that he has the authority of God in what he says, but again how does this all apply to us? It is true Paul did not travel around the land with Jesus while he was here, as the others did, but Jesus appeared to him after. Perhaps Jesus has appeared to some of us in various ways, but surely that does not make us an apostle. But we could ask ourselves are there any people who are believers as a result of our work in the Lord. If there are any who are believers because of our work in the Lord, are we then apostles to them? The word Apostle simply means a delegate, especially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ which includes having miraculous powers, of course. We could fit into that category to some people if we shared the Gospel with them and they turned from their life of sin and are now following Jesus. The question is are we doing that or are we just being a believer, going to church on Sunday, and living our own little lives without every doing any work in the Lord ? Are we going out where it is messy and making a difference in anyone’s life? Or do we have the attitude it is us four and no more? Even if we are not out in the messy parts of the world sharing the Gospel message, are we even making a difference in anyone’s life inside the church, or once again, are we just going about our own lives, doing our own thing? If we learn anything at all from this passage we should be out there, somewhere making a difference in somebodies life, other than our own.  If we are too timid to speak up, maybe we could write a letters, create a blog, write a book, or reach out some other way. If we are too timid to speak up, maybe we should ask God, in the name of Jesus, to give us the miraculous power to say the words we need to say in order to make a difference in someone’s life. We really need to ask ourselves, “What are we doing”?

What Should We Do?

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

1 Cor 8:9-13

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

NIV

So there is it, the burden of responsibility falls on the shoulders of the stronger believer. Now this brings up a point we never actually deal with much in the church, the difference between those who have a strong faith and those who are weak in their faith. Does it mean some have more faith then others? Or is it rather we all have the same amount of faith but that some simply exercise their faith more than others. Just as we all have the exact same number of muscles in our body, but some are a lot stronger than others because their exercise and grow their muscles. Why would someone not what to grow their faith? Why do we have weak brothers and sister in Christ? Is there no one to help them exercise? In some sense it does seem a bit selfish in their part to remain so weak that those of us who have the freedom in Christ must restrict that freedom on account of their weakness. But that is the case and thus we should do what we should do. Although this passage is about that food which was offered to idols, that same principle could apply to all sorts of activities. Yet we are seeing here we of stronger faith should be aware of those who just can’t seem to get past certain customs of the life before Christ. Does that mean we should only refrain from eating that food, or living in our freedom, while in their presence? Would that then be sort of living a lie? Does that mean the Body of Christ is only as strong as the weakest member? What if the one with a weak conscience does not think it is right for him to give money to Satan?  Are those who invest in secular companies to line their pockets with gold, causing the weak brother to stumble? What if the one with the weak conscience does not think it right to continue to go to the movies, or drink wine, or smoke, or for men to have long hair, or for woman to wear makeup, or whatever else they think is of the world? What are we to do then? Are those who subscribe to a set of antiquated denominational rules and regulations the strong ones or the weak ones? Are those rules and regulations actually outdated? For the most part many of them are based on the Word of God, yet some are not. What should those is us who feel that freedom in Christ do? What should we do?