It is evident from reading his writings that Paul loved the gospel intensely. Do you share this passion for the gospel? I do! I find that even as the Word of God quenches my thirst for gospel comfort, instruction, and love, it also stirs in me a desire for more!
One of the most beautiful ways to experience more of the precious good news is by looking for ways to die to yourself to bless others. As you ask God to show you ways to put the interests of others ahead of your own and implement them, you will experience deeper intimacy and sweet fellowship with Jesus in His sufferings. When you take up your cross and follow Christ, His gospel becomes real and personal. You begin to find life in it! “In dying, behold we live!” (2 Corinthians 6:9).
Please read the following passage for our study today:
“What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. 11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ”
1 Corinthians 9:7-12
Here Paul uses numerous analogies to show that he has a right to compensation for preaching the gospel. The first one is that a farmer who plants a vineyard has the right to eat from its fruit.
Question 1. Please list the other analogies Paul uses to prove that he has the right to compensation for preaching the gospel.
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In another analogy, Paul pulls from Deuteronomy 25:4, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Here the picture is of a hardworking ox, who is on the job to tread grain for its owner, and God instructed that the owner should not muzzle the ox to prevent it from eating while it works but should instead allow the ox to eat some fruit of its labors.
Paul uses this Old Testament quote to prove he has the right to compensation for proclaiming the gospel, as he “treads out the grain” in his ministry to bless others with such good news. “Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest” (1 Corinthians 9:9-10).
But the point Paul makes is that he willingly, joyfully, and eagerly gives up his right to compensation to not put any obstacles in the way of others receiving the good news. “But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12).
To reach others with the good news, Paul joyfully surrendered his God-given rights to receive payment. And isn’t that just like Jesus who gave up His rights to save us and set us free? Jesus joyfully surrendered the right to be worshiped in heaven, the right to be honored among all, and came to this world in love, to take your sin and shame on Himself and to die for you. In “treading out the grain” like this, He feeds you with forgiveness, rescue from sin, reconciliation with the Father, and eternal life. What a Savior!
One way to ruin our Christian testimony is to deny the cross by clinging to our rights and freedoms at the expense of someone else hearing the good news. May God keep us from this error.
Question 2. Paul gave up his right to compensation for the furtherance of the gospel. Has God impressed any sacrifice on your heart, in the past or currently, for the sake of the gospel? Please share.
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