Free Bible Commentary
“1 Corinthians 9:15-18”
Categories: 1 Corinthians“But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The Gospel’s power and a faithful preacher’s influence are a billion times over more important than any money that he could get from preaching it. Paul used none of his rights and privileges as a preacher and an apostle with the Corinthians concerning payment, and he wasn’t making an appeal for them when he wrote the words of this chapter. He would have rather died than go back on his decision to freely devote his life to Jesus Christ and to the preaching of the Gospel of salvation (verse 15). His spiritual and eternal rewards were much more valuable than any pittance that the brethren could have contributed in their support.
Paul could “boast” that he preached the Gospel for free, but he was still under “compulsion” because he was a hand-picked, chosen vessel for the Lord (verse 16; Acts 9:15). He could have chosen, by his own free will, to disobey the call to serve the Lord, but that would have proven disastrous for him. The alternative to preaching would have been an unthinkable eternity of calamity and “woe”!
“For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me” (verse 17). Paul knew he had to preach the Gospel one way or the other. He would either preach “voluntarily” and yet still receive a “reward”. That reward would be preaching the word “without charge” (verse 18) out of a heart full of love for his fellowman, and sharing in the thrill of helping to save souls. Or he could preach against his will (only out of a sense of duty), and fulfill the “stewardship” that had been entrusted to him. I am sure there were times that he vacillated between willingly and unwillingly preaching the truth. But, either way, he never stopped helping others learn the Gospel!
Christ was enough of a reward for Paul. Is He for us? Do we willing forgo our earthly “rights” and “privileges” to serve the Lord with a clear conscience, and help our friends and brethren get to heaven? Let’s look for ways to do that!
Please read 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 for tomorrow.
Blessings!
- Louie Taylor
