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Freedom Works
Richard Waialeale1 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)
12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
When Paul uses the word right, it also means freedom. Paul in this chapter is saying he choses not to be paid for preaching the Good News, and this just blows the people away. Because the normal process is after one delivers a message, there’s an honorarium due.
Paul’s prepared to go without his rights, because he doesn’t want money get in the way of the Gospel.
There were some people who might have presumed he was simply another, what we would consider today, a Traveling evangelist, or a televangelist, someone motivated by profits.
To avoid being a “stumbling block,” Paul relinquished his right to receive support from those to whom he ministered.
There were places that Paul traveled as a missionary where he would receive compensation, but in this situation, in Corinth, he chose to love rather then waste precious time proving his right to receive and being criticized. This would have slowed the progress of preaching the Good News. The key here was the love he had for the people. He loved them and saw the potential of the Gospels moving in a mighty way so he gave up his compensation for the love of the people and the love for the Good News. That’s the kind of heart I want. To do whatever it takes to spread the Good News of Jesus.
Father thank you for showing me the heart of Paul and his love for these people. I pray Lord that I have a heart like Paul. That Your Word and love for people is all the rights and freedom we need. Amen.
