1 Corinthians 9:1-14 NLT              

Paul deserved to get paid for his ministry.

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 (NLT)
¹ Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? ² Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

³ This is my answer to those who question my authority. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

⁷ 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.

¹³ Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 (NLT)
¹ Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?

Some of Paul’s credentials.

Leading into his rights to be financially supported by those to whom he ministers.

 ² Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

God used Paul to start the church in Corinth.

Paul’s arguments supporting his authenticity as an apostle.

³ This is my answer to those who question my authority. 

Paul sets out to defend his rights.

⁴ Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does?  (At the expense of the church.)

• Paul claims the right to be supported financially by the church.

President:

Matthew 10:10-11 (NLT) Jesus sending out the twelve disciples.
¹⁰ Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.  ¹¹ “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town.

 ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

Sarcasm

Six reasons why the church should support Paul.

 ⁷ 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? 

 1.  Custom: It was the custom of the time.

The soldier, farmer, and shepherd were all supported by their work.

 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.

 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NLT)
¹⁷ Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

 2.  The Old Testament supported the principle of just remuneration.

Deuteronomy 25:4 (NLT)
 “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.

Chapter 25 is talking about people, not animals.

Just remuneration

¹¹ Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 

3.  Beneficial service should be rewarded

 ¹² If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported?

 4.  The church supported other spiritual leaders.

 But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.

 ¹³ Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 

 5.  Both Old Testament Priests and Pagan Priests were supported for their service.

 ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

 6.  Jesus said that those who share the Gospel with others deserve their pay.

The worker deserves his wages.

Luke 10:7 (NLT) (Jesus speaking)
Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

•  Christians in full-time ministry deserve to be paid for their work.

 

Other scriptures relating to wages:

Be fair:

Colossians 4:1 (NLT)
Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Romans 4:4 (NLT)
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.

 Be generous:

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NLT)
²⁴ Give freely and become more wealthy;
    be stingy and lose everything.
²⁵ The generous will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

 Luke 6:38 (NLT) (Context: relating to others)
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)
¹⁷ Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

 Warnings to those who cheat workers of their wages:

Deuteronomy 24:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ “Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. ¹⁵ You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.

James 5:1-4 (NLT)
Warning to the Rich
¹ Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. ² Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. ⁴ For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Malachi 3:5 (NLT)
“At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 Jeremiah 22:13 (NLT)
A Message about Jehoiakim
And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,
    who builds his palace with forced labor.
He builds injustice into its walls,
    for he makes his neighbors work for nothing.
    He does not pay them for their labor.