1 Corinthians 9 (5)

Pray Psalm 52.8, 9.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

Sing Psalm 52.8, 9.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
But as for me may I be seen in God an olive ever green!
Ever in God, most kind and just, shall I with joy and gladness trust!

Thanks evermore to our Savior be raised! His faithfulness be ever praised!
Here with Your people, loving God, I wait upon Your Name, so good!

Read 1 Corinthians 9.1-23; meditate on verses 19-23.

Preparation
1. What did Paul make himself to others?

2. Why did he do that?

Meditation
The operative phrase in this passage is “for the gospel’s sake” (v. 23). We will miss Paul’s message—or misinterpret it—if we lose sight of this phrase. His use of “all things” and “all means” is bounded by “for the gospel’s  sake”. He would do nothing unlawful or scandalous or petty or merely manipulative. Paul’s desire in all his behavior was that he might be a “partaker” of the Gospel with other believers (v. 22), especially (in this instance) the Corinthians. To be a partaker of the Gospel—to fellowship with the Gospel—is to have the Gospel of the Kingdom define and shape everything you do or say.

What was he willing to do to accomplish that goal? In short, whatever he lawfully could. He would get a day job to support himself. He would speak the language of the Old Testament (v. 20) or of Greek philosophy (v. 21; cf. Acts 17). He would suffer want, hardship, persecution, imprisonment, and more, if doing so would make it possible for him to preach and teach the Good News of Christ and His Kingdom.

Indeed, it was precisely because Paul knew the fellowship of the Gospel that he could make himself a servant to all men, whatever it took, to bring them to Jesus as well (v. 19). He knew the beauty and glory of seeing Jesus with the eyes of his heart. He experienced the Presence of the Lord for comfort, encouragement, strength amid weakness, and rest amid labor. He rejoiced in others coming to faith and taking their place in the journey of Kingdom life. And above all, he thrilled to see God being glorified by His people.

Paul was free from dependence on men (v. 19), free in the Lord Jesus to trust and obey Him alone. And this made him a most effective, persistent, faithful, and joyful servant of all people. Even, yes, the Corinthians.

Even you and me.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Life experiences. Each of us has them and they are uniquely our own.
It is why we are in the Personal Mission Field that God has put us in.

Paul was able to be those things “for the gospel’s sake” because that was who he was. It is one of the main reasons he told the Corinthians that, “each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that” (1 Cor. 7.7). “As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk,” and “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called” (1 Cor. 7.17, 20). It only makes sense.

The things we have suffered and come through with God’s help, we can use to minister to others: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thess. 5.11). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1.3, 4).

Our childhoods, our growing-up years, our marital joys and challenges, our troubles and joys raising children, or our singleness, our jobs, our health and lack of the same, our physical pains and disabilities, our mental and emotional struggles, our testimonies of redemption, all these things and many others are what make us who we are in Christ. Paul shared some of his: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4.11-13). 

David penned a Psalm about the goodness of the LORD after he had (as the superscription for Psalm 34 states) pretended madness before Abimelech. David wasn’t mad, but by observing Saul in his madness, learned how to feign madness to save himself from an enemy. It was a learned life experience used in his Personal Mission Field; and this written about experience benefited millions who would eventually read his words.

All of what we know and have experienced, as painful as much of it is, can be used for God’s glory and “for the gospel’s sake”. It is a grab bag of information that, instead of being ignored or suppressed, can be reclaimed through God’s goodness and grace for His use. For we know and do believe that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Rom. 8.28, 29).

We can reclaim, repurpose, and reuse all our life experiences, tempered with God’s grace—for the gospel’s sake.

For reflection
1. What does the phrase, “for the gospel’s sake”, mean to you?

2. Do you have fellowship in the Gospel with other Christians? Is that fellowship as full and transforming as it could be?

3. Whom will you encourage today in the fellowship of the Gospel? How will you do that?

Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life… Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9.15-23

Pray Psalm 52.1-7.
Pray for the lost and for all those who oppose the truth that is in Jesus. Pray that God will use you as a light to draw others into the fellowship of the Gospel.

Sing Psalm 52.1-7.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Why do the mighty boast in sin? God’s love endures, it knows no end!
They with their tongues vain boasts repeat, and like a razor, work deceit.

Men more than good in evil delight, and lies prefer to what is right.
They utter words both harsh and strong with their devouring, deceitful tongue.

God will forever break them down, uproot, and cast them to the ground!
He from their safety tears them away, no more to know the light of day.

The righteous see and laugh and fear, and say, “Behold, what have we here?
Such are all who at God conspire, and wealth and evil ways desire.”

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.