Lessons From 1 Corinthians – Lesson 9
We saw some of Paul’s heart for the work of God last time. Paul would rather suffer need than to hinder the gospel of Christ.
1 Cor 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Still in the context of taking a paycheck Paul says he was not writing this to get paid and that it were better for me to die.
1 Cor 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
1 Cor 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Paul’s heart was woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel! His heart to get God’s word out was so strong. He could not think of not doing it. He considered not doing it a woe. Woe is a very strong term used in the Bible.
A lot of what happens in the tribulation is called a woe.
I have nowhere near Paul’s heart to get God’s Word out. But I do slightly understand. I have had a burden to get God’s Word out for over 2 decades.
One church I joined did not have any visitation program. I told him I have to go. I need to go. Just get me some tracts and I will go by myself. And I did. I think in a way it shamed him, a few months later he started a Saturday visitation program.
I pleaded with other pastors to do more, go more often. Me and Steve would often go twice a week. For the last 3 ½ years I have done something on a practical level to get the word of God out almost every day.
And I love it. Even thinking about slowing down would hurt inside. I do have a burden. However, I believe it is almost nothing in comparison to the burden Paul had.
Paul’s motivation was to please God by getting the gospel out and to do it with no other incentives getting in the way. Paul wanted to do it willingly with an eye for God’s rewards not mans.
1 Cor 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
1 Cor 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Paul was 100 percent all in doing it and 100 percent all in in doing it with an eye to pleasing God.
And Paul would be a servant to all to reach some with the gospel.
1 Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Cor 9:23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
And now comes the race illustration. We had to recap the first few verses before or we would not understand the context of the race illustration. And remember this is still in the overall topic of I can but should I and the difference between have to and should.
Paul had a great burden. But everyone does not have to. And most Christians do not. They consider going to heaven enough. They can do that, but it does not have to be that way.
Paul is using himself as an example. Paul chose to do more, to care more. Paul chose to have a burden. Paul is highlighting the should here. Now comes the race illustration.
1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Do you have to run? No. Should you run? Paul says yes. So run, that ye may obtain.
1 Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Paul has already stated earlier that all things are lawful, but all things are not expedient. You have a free will not to run the race to please God, but you should.
And if you do, then strive to have mastery over yourself and your desires. Keep some things in check and under control.
And then Paul brings up a great reason why. To please God. To obtain an incorruptible crown given to you by your Lord and Savior.
Live your life to Please Jesus. Out of a free will, and for no other reasons than to help the cause of Christ and to Please the Lord, deny yourself some of the I can’s and instead strive for the I should’s.
Live your life like a race. Striving to win. And the motivation is to please Jesus.
1 Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Have to verses should. And I can but should I.
Here we see there are consequences to that decision.
Going to heaven or not is not one of the consequences. A Christian can stop at the only have to, which is get saved. He can choose to not do the should and he will still go to heaven.
However, there are other consequences. Some of them are even severe.
The first consequence to choosing not to run the race, and not prioritize the should and the consequence to not bringing yourself into subjection is No Crown.
No reward from Jesus.
Now Paul is going to bring up some of the other consequences of holding to the I can and not doing the should.