Giving Up One’s Rights
1 Corinthians 9:15-23 NLT
15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 9:15-23 NLT
Giving Up One’s Rights
15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. (Paul deserved to get paid for his ministry.) And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now.
In the first 14 verses of this chapter, Paul gave 6 convincing reasons why he should be getting paid for his ministry.
- Paul chose not to exercise his rights to receive financial support from the Corinthian community.
In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Paul knew that he was chosen by God.
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”
Psalm 121
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Paul knew that his help came from the Lord.
Boasting: express a sense of joy and fulfillment in what God was doing through him.
Paul was filled with joy for the privilege of serving the Lord and did not want material support to rob him of it in any way.
2 Corinthians 11:9-10 (NLT)
9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.
- Along with a paycheck can come a loss of freedoms.
A paycheck sometimes includes expections of specific behaviors which may not be consistent with the ministry God has for you. (Serving man vs. serving God.)
2 Corinthians 2:17 (NLT)
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
- Teach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching you.
Acts 5:29 (NLT)
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
- We must obey God rather than any human authority.
16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it.
Paul’s boast was not personal. It’s not about Paul. It’s all about God.
Acts 22:6-10 (NLT)
6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’
- Paul was not given the option of choosing his career.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NLT)
20 Now may the God of peace—
…
21 … equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
- God has a plan for our lives and God equips us to do His will.
How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
- Living outside of God’s will has serious consequences.
17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.
Luke 17:10 (NLT)
In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
It was God’s sovereign choice and call for Paul to be an apostle.
- Being called by God to teach the Good News is a sacred trust given by God.
18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone.
The privilege of preaching the Gospel.
Seeing lives changed.
That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.
- Paul was totally committed to the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
Within the limits of God’s Word and his Christian conscience.
22 When I am with those who are weak, (the Corinthians) I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone,
1 Corinthians 10:33 (NLT)
I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
