Read 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
16I have no right to boast just because I
preach the gospel. After all, I am under orders to do so. And how terrible it
would be for me if I did not preach the gospel! 17If I did my work
as a matter of free choice, then I could expect to be paid; but I do it as a
matter of duty, because God has entrusted me with this task. 18What
pay do I get, then? It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without
charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel.
19 I
am a free man, nobody’s slave; but I make myself everybody’s slave in order to
win as many people as possible. 20While working with the Jews, I
live like a Jew in order to win them; and even though I myself am not subject
to the Law of Moses, I live as though I were when working with those who are,
in order to win them. 21In the same way, when working with Gentiles,
I live like a Gentile, outside the Jewish Law, in order to win Gentiles. This
does not mean that I don’t obey God’s law; I am really under Christ’s law. 22Among
the weak in faith I become weak like one of them, in order to win them. So I
become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means
are possible.
23 All
this I do for the gospel’s sake, in order to share in its blessings.
Think
Paul worked to support
himself as he traveled the world preaching the gospel. Wherever he went - he immersed himself in the
community to whom he was ministering.
In this passage he defends
his right to be an apostle.
Pray
Lord - thank you for people
like Paul - who selflessly offer themselves to do your work. Help me to offer more of me for you.
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