Thought On This Chapter
1COR 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.
1COR 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.
Here the Christian life is likened to a race. A race that does indeed
have a prize. And we are instructed to try to obtain it. The prize
is compared to what an earthly race offers. It says that it's crown is
corruptible. The rewards of the fleshly earthly races will all rust, fade,
and fall apart. They are corruptible. They will not last. The
prize that a Christian is to strive to obtain is quite different. It is
incorruptible. It will not rust, fade, or fall apart. In fact it
will last for all eternity. What we strive for is of infinite more value.
We are to run the race after we are saved.
Salvation is a free gift. Crowns are not. You do absolutely no works
to get saved, but you do work to get rewards.
The Bible does teach a reward system in heaven.
Some will get crowns and some will not.
Are you running the race so that you may obtain?
Thought On This Chapter
1COR 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 did not preach for money. He did not preach
for fame or so people could shower gifts upon him and take care of him.
Paul was very poor. He says for necessity is laid upon me. Many
times Paul went hungry. He suffered many times in many different ways.
Why did he do it. One reason is found here. He had a burning in him
to preach the gospel. This is the burning of heart that is given to God
called men. When this comes up I think of Jeremiah.
Jer 20:8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried
violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me,
and a derision, daily.
Jeremiah's message was not received by the people God
sent him to preach to. In fact they treated him horribly. He got to
the point were he wanted to quit. He even tried to quit.
Jer 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him,
nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning
fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not
[stay].
Jeremiah could not quit. He had a burning fire in
his heart. He says he was weary with forbearing. The Word of God
burning in his heart would not leave him alone. He understood what Paul
was talking about. Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.
I have seen many have this fire; this calling of God.
I have seen some get called, and then fall by the wayside. However, the
fire does not go away and they become miserable. I have seen others who
had it become disqualified and they too were miserable. I knew an old time
preacher who had it. He was in his upper 80's and his body no longer had
the strength, but he still had the fire. I would go over to his house, sit
on his couch and ask a few questions just to get him going. And sit there
and let him preach his heart out. He could not quite keep focused on the
same thing for very long, but he still had the fire. It did him good to
preach even to an audience of one. I have seen God give this calling, this
fire to many and to varying degrees. They would all say woe is me if I
don't preach. I would say woe to any man who gets into preaching without
some of this kind of God called, God enabled fire burning in his heart.
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King James Bible Main Index:
1COR 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
1COR 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
1COR 9:3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1COR 9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1COR 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1COR 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1COR 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1COR 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1COR 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1COR 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1COR 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1COR 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.
1COR 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1COR 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1COR 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.
1COR 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!
1COR 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.
1COR 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.
1COR 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1COR 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1COR 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1COR 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.
1COR 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
1COR 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.
1COR 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.
1COR 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1COR 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.
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1COR 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou
shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take
care for oxen?
Paul brings up one of God's laws saying that even the
ox deserves compensation for his work. They were not to muzzle the ox that
was treading out the corn. The ox was to be allowed to eat some of the
corn that he was treading. He was to benefit from his labors. Since
that is true for the ox in his labor for man, should it not be even more true
for a man doing the work of God?
1COR 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about
holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar
are partakers with the altar?
Paul goes back to the old testament again and shows
that the priests who worked in the temple received some of the offerings of the
temple. This is how they got their food and paid their bills.
1COR 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they
which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Paul says that God's principal has not changed. A
man is worthy of his hire. He says that it is the Lord who ordained that
preachers who preach the gospel should live of the gospel. The context
here is clear. A preacher deserves to get paid.
And he deserves a GOOD salary. Some churches give a preacher low pay to
try to keep him humble. Shame on their wicked hearts.
A church should value the man of God more than that. With everything that
the preacher has to go thru (much of which you never hear about) he earns a good
salary. How well is your church paying your Pastor?
Would Jesus be pleased with how you are taking care of His man? |
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