1 Corinthians 9:1-27
Paul's priority in life was the advance of the Gospel. In order to make that happen he was willing to make all kinds of sacrifices. I am amazed and challenged by both the depth and the variety of sacrifices he made and find myself asking if I am even in the same ballpark when it comes to sacrificial service for our Lord.
FAMILY SACRIFICES: It seems that Paul truly desired to be married, but he was willing to give up the joy of marriage in order to better serve the Lord. He makes it clear that marriage is not wrong and that not all ministers were to make such a sacrifice, but he was willing to do so. I am sure that he had many lonely times in his life where a wife could have been such a huge comfort and help to him. Those of us who are married should appreciate our wives and thank God for the joy He gives us in our families.
FINANCIAL SACRIFICES: As a minister Paul had every right to be paid by the people to who he was ministering. He spent his time and energy making tents and depended upon the Lord to provide for his needs. It is hard not to know where the next pay check will come from, but that was the reality of Paul's experience. He wanted to offer the Gospel without receiving any financial support from those to whom he was preaching. I am sure that he didn't have a 401k or even social security. Too often we decide our ministry according to money. Perhaps that is one reason that the Gospel does not spread at the speed with which it did under the ministry of Paul.
FREEDOM SACRIFICES: As we discussed in the last chapter, Paul was willing to limit his freedom in order to win others to Christ. He was flexible with the food he would eat and the way that he would talk in accordance with the audience to who he was ministering. It was not that he did not have convictions. It was that he was not willing to let personal preferences and non essential issues to hinder the progress of the Gospel. I feel that far too often churches and individuals confuse their personal preferences with the teaching of Scripture. They allow these preferences to become their central focus and therefore are distracted from the priority of advancing the Gospel. We must not allow this to happen.
PHYSICAL SACRIFICES: Paul did not want to be disqualified from service or reward because of any form of sin in his life. He wanted to bring his body into subjection in order that the Gospel might go forward. Comfort and ease of life was not his focus. He had his eyes fixed on the rewards of eternity that the Lord has promised to all those who strive for the advance of the name of Christ. The comforts of life and the pleasures of sin are never to be compared with the eternal rewards that the Lord has prepared for us. We must walk and live in light of this truth. We must follow the standards of Scripture and keep our bodies and desires in submission to what God has revealed to us. This will result in the Gospel expanding and great reward for all of eternity.
FAMILY SACRIFICES: It seems that Paul truly desired to be married, but he was willing to give up the joy of marriage in order to better serve the Lord. He makes it clear that marriage is not wrong and that not all ministers were to make such a sacrifice, but he was willing to do so. I am sure that he had many lonely times in his life where a wife could have been such a huge comfort and help to him. Those of us who are married should appreciate our wives and thank God for the joy He gives us in our families.
FINANCIAL SACRIFICES: As a minister Paul had every right to be paid by the people to who he was ministering. He spent his time and energy making tents and depended upon the Lord to provide for his needs. It is hard not to know where the next pay check will come from, but that was the reality of Paul's experience. He wanted to offer the Gospel without receiving any financial support from those to whom he was preaching. I am sure that he didn't have a 401k or even social security. Too often we decide our ministry according to money. Perhaps that is one reason that the Gospel does not spread at the speed with which it did under the ministry of Paul.
FREEDOM SACRIFICES: As we discussed in the last chapter, Paul was willing to limit his freedom in order to win others to Christ. He was flexible with the food he would eat and the way that he would talk in accordance with the audience to who he was ministering. It was not that he did not have convictions. It was that he was not willing to let personal preferences and non essential issues to hinder the progress of the Gospel. I feel that far too often churches and individuals confuse their personal preferences with the teaching of Scripture. They allow these preferences to become their central focus and therefore are distracted from the priority of advancing the Gospel. We must not allow this to happen.
PHYSICAL SACRIFICES: Paul did not want to be disqualified from service or reward because of any form of sin in his life. He wanted to bring his body into subjection in order that the Gospel might go forward. Comfort and ease of life was not his focus. He had his eyes fixed on the rewards of eternity that the Lord has promised to all those who strive for the advance of the name of Christ. The comforts of life and the pleasures of sin are never to be compared with the eternal rewards that the Lord has prepared for us. We must walk and live in light of this truth. We must follow the standards of Scripture and keep our bodies and desires in submission to what God has revealed to us. This will result in the Gospel expanding and great reward for all of eternity.
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