Slices
Prepare
Our access to God does not depend on who or what we are, but on his love. Pray: ‘Thank you, Lord.’
Bible passage
Paul’s rights as an apostle
9 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.
3 This is my defence 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 lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? 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 whoever ploughs and threshes should be able 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?
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 serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that 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.
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, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since 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 full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Explore
As an apostle preaching the gospel, Paul was entitled to earn his living from it (vs 1–14). But he decided in Corinth to forgo this right (vs 12,15–18) so that he could present the gospel free of charge (v 18), as indeed it is.
He expected everyone to recognise that he was an apostle, and that it was legitimate for him to be sustained by his work like other workers. Soldiers, shepherds, farm labourers and temple priests (vs 7,13) all benefited from their work in cash or kind. Even animals were sustained as they worked (vs 8,9). Likewise, says Paul, an apostle can expect to be supported from the fruit of his labours (vs 10–12). Local churches today still have a responsibility to provide proper remuneration and support for their appointed leaders, teachers and employees (v 14).
Nevertheless, Paul renounced this right for himself in Corinth, because he felt that asking for money would hinder the gospel there (vs 12,18). He did not elaborate, but he was adamant that his priority was communicating the gospel of Christ. And if it would be helped by a sacrifice of his own, he was more than content. In fact, doing so was a matter of pride and deep satisfaction for him – his ‘boast’ and ‘reward’ (vs 15,18).
Respond
Is there a right or privilege you would willingly forgo if it might clear the way for the gospel to reach someone?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 1–3; Proverbs 17,18
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Christopher Baker, Schools Worker at Mission Partner Christians in Schools in Letchworth, as he prepares to take a sabbatical from June to August. Pray that he will enjoy rest, refreshment and renewal during this time as he reflects and gets ready for the coming academic year.
