1 Corinthians 9:11-12 “If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.”
Continuing, Pastor Obie states that the point is, we should relinquish our Rights if it means reaching more people for the Gospel. There are two groups of people that this concept of ministry is concerned with. The first group is “part of the church”. It is better to not be a burden to Believers in the church that were questioning authority. The second group was the people outside the church and still needed to hear the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Do not put any obstacles in the way of them to know and accept the Gospel, so that they have a problem hearing. Let me explain why this is.
The world has daily physical interactions of business, commerce, schools, families, friends, acquaintances, sports, entertainment, dining, theater, TV and computers. In the days before electronics, people would go to the Public Square or Amphitheater to hear philosophers, orators and public speakers. There was a type of speaker known as a “sophist” [A professor of philosophy; a captious or fallacious reasoner]. A Sophist was a traveling teacher that went from city to city lecturing with speeches designed to attract customers to get their name known and charge for their dishonest reasoning. Gospel preachers are never to gave that appearance to the seeking public.
The Gospel is not a gimmick. It not only is the “Good News, but it is the greatest news that anyone can hear. If there is anything in your life that could potentially create an obstacle for people to her and accept the Gospel, give that thing up because it’s not worth having a hindrance or impediment to anyone’s eternal salvation. We have freedoms in Christ and we have freedoms in America, but we can alienate people. Just because you have the “Right” doesn’t always mean that it’s “right”. Don’t cause harm to advancing the Gospel in people’s lives. Reach more people for the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:15-16 “But I have used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make my boast an empty one! For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”
The next point is that when making decisions, place your purpose over your preferences. If anything does not support our main purpose then don’t use it, including the relinquishing of Rights that do not serve the purpose of glorifying God with your life. It is human nature to prefer and default to the comfortable path of least resistance. To reach godly purposes requires focus, time, discipline and hard work in order to change your viewpoint, so put your purpose about your preferences.
The main means of fulfilling our main purpose to glorify God is through obedience. One of the main things that God has commanded us to do in the “Great Commission”, which is laid out to us by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you.” All Christians, all of Jesus’ followers, are called to advance the Gospel in some way, shape or form. So, steward your resources well by investing your time, talents, efforts and treasures into the proclamation and spreading of the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:17-18 “For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless. 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.”
Paid or unpaid, the disciple of Jesus Christ has a calling, a purpose and an obligation to preach the Gospel, well we must steward well with our life and sometimes use words. All of Jesus’ followers have critical questions to answer; What Rights are you willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ? What Rights are you willing to sacrifice to advance the Gospel of Salvation? What resources are you stewarded with that you can give to the advancement of the Great Commission for the spreading of the Gospel? What exactly is the Gospel? John 3:16 explain it as, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever [repents,] believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish [for their sins], but [be forgiven] have eternal life.”
There is no greater news in all of history for humanity than that right there. Nothing is more timeless. Nothing is more impactful. Nothing has changed history more than that simple message, yet profound message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What can you sacrifice to advance the Gospel? Steward your resources well in your time, talents and treasures. You have a purpose, so equip yourself to meet that purpose in life. Believers are all on the same team, members of the same body, working together for the same goal; the Gospel which converts people’s life. We are making a difference, changing lives for today and saving souls. I have the Right to remain loving and reach more.
In Christ, Brian
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