Words of The Day

Example of an Apostle

(1 Corinthians 9:13-27) 

Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Beloved servants of God I greet you in the name of Jesus: As we look as Paul’s example as an Apostle he gave up his rights to be paid to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that there would be any distraction.

 In (Luke 10:4-8) Jesus said:  Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: If not: it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking, such things as they give; for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

Like Paul, we have an obligation as a chosen instrument who had been given a stewardship to discharge the message of the gospel to all nations. Some of us did no choose this as a profession but was chosen by God. Our obligation to preach the gospel should be rewarding to us and not putting material things before the gospel. We should take much pleasure in preaching the gospel that we should be will to forgo our rights to compensation.

Paul felt bound as Christ’s slave to fulfill the commission. (Romans 1:1) Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. Paul as a free man put forward his motive for making himself a slave (I enslaved myself) He did it in order to win more people. We too should consider doing the same. His self imposed slavery gave him the freedom to accommodate Jews and Gentiles alike and therefore speak the gospel in a forthright manner, unhindered by cultural hang-ups. He exemplified this freedom among the Jews when he circumcised Timothy to maximize the gospel witness in Jewish areas. (Timothy’s Mother was Jewish). Among Gentiles who were without the Law, yielded his rights in order to maximize the gospel’s advance. He would not take wages if it would cause those outside the Law to stumble.  

Like hard driven athletes, Paul had a single-minded focus. His exercise of self-control was aimed at keeping him from being disqualified. Disqualified does not mea loss of salvation, but rather failure to fulfill his God given commission to evangelize the world. If athletes compete by the rules and master self-control in everything, all for the purpose of winning a crown that will fade away, how much more should we discipline ourselves for a crown that will never fade away? We must not preach the gospel monetary gains and or material things, but because we were commissioned to do so.

God Bless You.