PREACHING CHRIST WITHOUT CHARGE

1 Corinthians 9:16-19 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! 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. 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. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

No doubt the church at Corinth was established through the teaching of the apostle Paul. Yet this letter was written at a later time to address many problems that existed within the church at this location. Disputes had caused disunity, and it was Paul's intention, by writing this letter, to correct the errors that brought about division among the brethren, that seemed to have resulted from a clash between their Jewish and Gentile heritage.

Many denied Paul's authority by denying his apostleship. Based on his defense given in this letter, some evidently denied that he was chosen as an apostle, with the special mission of carrying the gospel of Christ to the Gentile nations. Some denied his authority by saying he had not seen Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 9:1). Some contended he was not an apostle because his lifestyle was unlike the other twelve apostles - that is, he was unmarried, had no family life, and was constantly moving from one city, and country to another (1 Cor. 9:4-5). Some said that, because he refused the financial support of the church, he was not an apostle of Christ, since other apostles relied on the church for support. This, they assumed, meant that Paul didn't even consider himself to be an apostle (See 1 Cor. 9:6-14).

All of these contentions Paul answered by saying that he had the power, or the right to do so, to the same extent that all other apostles had the right. However, Paul contends that he also had the power, or the right, not to conduct himself, or maintain the same lifestyle, identically as did all other apostles - that these things had no bearing on his appointment, by Jesus Christ, Himself, to be His apostle. Even the apostle, Peter, recognized, accepted, and confirmed in writing, Paul was an apostle of Christ (See 2 Peter 3:14-17). As an apostle, as a preacher of the gospel of Christ, and as a servant of God, Paul practiced self-denial, so no one could claim his preaching was for personal, earthly benefit. Paul was a servant that labored only to deliver the gospel of Christ, and the hope of eternal salvation to the world, and, in doing so, to bring glory to his Master, his Creator, and his Heavenly Father. Indeed, Paul established self-denial as a virtue for all Christians to emulate. This is evidenced in the subject text, and is the theme of this lesson.

The first verse of the lesson text Paul says that he became a preacher of the gospel, not to receive the accolades of men, not to have reason to boast or seek self-glory, but it was a necessity laid upon him (Also See Acts 26:16-18). He never claimed to be a master over God's children, but rather God's servant to His children. The actions of his stewardship made him accountable to God. A servant, once his assigned duties are performed, has nothing to boast about - he had only done that which was required. Once revealed to Him, Paul accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, and along with it, the responsibility to proclaim the gospel message of salvation, through Him, to the world, with an even greater zeal than he had when opposing, and persecuting the body of Christ. Once convicted by Jesus, Paul became His obedient servant.

Although Paul felt compelled, as a servant, to preach the gospel of Christ, he wanted all to know that he did so willingly. He had no motive to serve, by preaching the message of salvation, other than to serve his Master. He did not want anyone to think he became a preacher of God's word for the reward of monetary gain. He wanted no one to consider his preaching to be of mere necessity to support his physical life on earth. Paul, having the same right as other apostles to be supported by the church, chose to support himself. He chose to serve the cause of Christ at his own expense, rather than at the expense of those to whom he delivered God's message of salvation. There were many things in the life of Paul, especially before his conversion, that could be used to discredit him, as one called by Christ to preach the hope of salvation. He considered himself to be the least of the apostles, ...not (worthy) to be called an apostle, ...because (he) persecuted the church of God (See 1 Cor. 15:9). He chose to preach the gospel of Christ without charge in order to maintain his credibility as an apostle of Christ and, thus, bring salvation to the world.