1 Corinthians 9 reminds me of a sales aptitude assessment that I took some years ago. Its purpose was to predict job success by measuring and matching personality strengths. Each person received a score between 1 and 100 in 20 separate relational categories. The established pattern for sales success, said individuals needed to score above 80 in key traits and below 20 in others. I confounded the test by scoring 50’s across the board. The trainer excitedly proclaimed that I am a “Hub”; meaning, like the center of a wheel, a hub connects equally well with all personality types. Today’s lesson is about seeking eternal success. The apostle continues his instruction to the eager church in Corinth. His goal is to help them refine their skills to best communicate the way to find peace with God through Christ. First, Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions establishing his qualifications as an apostle. He then tells them proudly, “you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” His reward was seeing them transform from hopelessness, to joy. Apparently, some were criticizing Paul’s motivation for preaching. He responds to that objection: “Don’t we have the right to food and drink… as do the other apostles?” Pastors have to eat too! Sometimes we look past people that bless us and forget they also have needs. The encourager sometimes needs to be encouraged.
But Paul must create a structure for sustained growth of the church. “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes?” In order to work full-time at something, a person must get paid. Paul quotes from the Law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” His point is clear: “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?” Paul adds a bullet point, “those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” After setting the pattern for the new testament church, Paul adds: “But I have not used any of these rights.” Paul views preaching as something entrusted to him by God. He became a missionary to the Gentile world without concern for earning an income: “that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge” in order to “make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.” He would not allow finances to distract anyone from hearing.
Paul closes the chapter with examples of how he used his rights and freedoms to lift others out of bondage. As a Roman citizen, he had many privileges. Yet, he declares: “I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” Though he had been set free from the legalism under the Hebrew Law: “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law… to win those under the law.” Please understand, Paul did not deceptively infiltrate, he was a Jew by birth and training. He simply observed the ceremonial requirements while among his brethren. He met everyone where they were: “I have become all things to all people so that… I might save some.” What was Paul’s motivation? “I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” The chapter ends with an exhortation: “in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize… Run in such a way as to get the prize.” Athletes go into strict training “to get a crown that will not last.” He tells us to focus on the ultimate goal: “to get a crown that will last forever.” It is so easy get distracted by petty arguments. Paul urges: “do not run… aimlessly”. I think that means we are to intentionally listen, care, genuinely love, and boldly speak God’s Word. People are hurting all around us. Our objective is to bring people to Jesus. He offers hope, He is our help and He is our healing. My friend, Jesus is the hub.