1 Corinthians 9 - Living with purpose

We now get a defence of Paul’s ministry. Evidently there were those who attacked Paul, and accused him of various things. This becomes even more apparent in 2 Corinthians.

Paul starts by stating some general truths about the ministry, and then explains his own lifestyle and dedication to the Lord and to the gospel. Finally he exhorts his hearers to learn from him. So he turns the attack on its head.

First it seems that Paul was attacked for taking money and food and drink from the Corinthians. Now it transpires that Paul did not actually do this, but before saying this he strongly defends his right to do so, and explains that it is actually the way things should be. A worker has the right to expect payment from the field he works in, so common sense dictates that a preacher has the right to earn a living from it. Moreover, the Lord has commanded that His servants earn their keep from their service. In the Old Testament this is a reference to the priests. Now Paul says that the Lord commanded that preachers should get their living from the gospel.

We have problems with money and preachers. In many churches the pastors are made to live on a much lower wage than average people. There is nothing good about this. A church should pay its leaders a reasonable wage. At the same time there those who seek to make money out of the gospel, exploiting churches. Paul has more to say about this later in 2 Corinthians, but it has always been a problem, and always will be.

However, despite having all these rights, Paul did not use them. He preached for free, working to earn a living. He counted himself nothing, and did whatever he could in order to win people for Christ.

Paul then urges his hearers to learn from him in the sense of living with a purpose for a purpose. It is very easy for us to fall into the trap of dilly dallying about. Considering this church or that church, saying what we like about that preacher or this preacher, what we don’t like about this or that. We are not spectators, but participants. We need to take life seriously and to live life seriously.