I Corinthians 9:15-23 NIV
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.
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.
As always this is a good Scripture. Paul preached the Gospel freely. He preached it with zeal and with love. He didn't stand on privileges. He lived his life and preached the Gospel according to God's Word. I love the way Paul was like a servant. He did that so he could win many souls into the Kingdom. He took preaching the Gospel seriously. Paul was a believer first and then a preacher. He knew his calling and did it willingly and with love. He did not abuse his power. How many times do we abuse our power? He didn't abuse it for the sake of the Gospel. He knew that he would win more people to Christ if he didn't "flaunt" that he was a preacher. Yes he knew he had power but he didn't throw it around and say I'm a minister so you better treat me right. That's not how Paul thought. His main objective was to win souls to Christ. Yes he had authority but he didn't abuse it. Yes he lived independent of men because of the respect to his office; yet to gain souls he became a servant to all. He accommodated himself to everyone so long as he could stay consistent with truth and sincerity. Paul conformed himself to the Jews - to their manner and thinking as far as he could without compromising the truth. He did this so he would be able to reach them. He observed the feasts and he also observed what to eat and what not to eat. How many of us would adapt ourselves in order to reach a wide range of people? Paul didn't take on the way of the of loose-living, the nonreligious, the religious, etc. but he tried to see things through their point of view. He kept himself true to Christ. Do we go to reach people and think we are better than them? Paul sacrificed everything to share the Gospel with both the Jews and the Gentiles. What have we given up to share Jesus with everyone we come in contact with? These are just some things to think about today.
As always this is a good Scripture. Paul preached the Gospel freely. He preached it with zeal and with love. He didn't stand on privileges. He lived his life and preached the Gospel according to God's Word. I love the way Paul was like a servant. He did that so he could win many souls into the Kingdom. He took preaching the Gospel seriously. Paul was a believer first and then a preacher. He knew his calling and did it willingly and with love. He did not abuse his power. How many times do we abuse our power? He didn't abuse it for the sake of the Gospel. He knew that he would win more people to Christ if he didn't "flaunt" that he was a preacher. Yes he knew he had power but he didn't throw it around and say I'm a minister so you better treat me right. That's not how Paul thought. His main objective was to win souls to Christ. Yes he had authority but he didn't abuse it. Yes he lived independent of men because of the respect to his office; yet to gain souls he became a servant to all. He accommodated himself to everyone so long as he could stay consistent with truth and sincerity. Paul conformed himself to the Jews - to their manner and thinking as far as he could without compromising the truth. He did this so he would be able to reach them. He observed the feasts and he also observed what to eat and what not to eat. How many of us would adapt ourselves in order to reach a wide range of people? Paul didn't take on the way of the of loose-living, the nonreligious, the religious, etc. but he tried to see things through their point of view. He kept himself true to Christ. Do we go to reach people and think we are better than them? Paul sacrificed everything to share the Gospel with both the Jews and the Gentiles. What have we given up to share Jesus with everyone we come in contact with? These are just some things to think about today.
