Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It’s not about me! It’s about others!

1 Corinthians 9

Paul is always, because of his love for people, concerned about how people understand what he is doing. On one hand, we need to not worry about what people think. We want to be able to reach them to encourage, challenge, and bring growth. We can’t be slaves to what people think but because of our love for people we do become their servants in the sense that we will work to enable people to become who God has called us to be.

Paul continuing on with the thought from Chapter 8 is saying he has the freedoms anyone has but he has placed limits on himself so that he might better serve the people. Jesus said, “greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends” Paul was living that example. Everyone who follows the Lord, as they mature, does this at one level or another. We choose to not do something because of our love for others and we choose to do other things that we would normally not do because of our love. Part of growing up is learning that you can not be selfish in your desires. Because of love we need to lay down our lives for one another.

Take care of your Pastor. I know this section may seem self-serving for me to comment but this is Paul’s charge in this chapter. Paul sets it up this way; society dictates that people who work in the service of others should be paid (verse 7). For Paul, speaking to the former Jews, the law of Moses commands that those in God’s service are taken care of (verses 8 – 13). Last, the Lord commands it for the Gospel’s sake (verse 14). To be honest, with the church that I am pastoring this has been a struggle for me, not that they don’t want to pay me, they do, they are generous but accepting the payment has been a struggle because I want to pour so much more into the ministry itself and see problems solved and the materials we need for construction, teaching, and ministry to take place. Initially I rejected any kind of remuneration, but after council, accepted some to cover expenses. Being available 24/7 leading others to hope and understanding, laying your life down for others is at times costly and the last thing you want your pastor to be worrying about is how are they going to pay their personal bills, put food of their table, and generally take care of their family. If a man does not care for his family he is worse than the unrighteous, the scripture says.

Paul wraps up this chapter, reminding us that he is a free man. He can do as he chooses to do within the love of the Word and the Lord. He chooses because of the weakness of others to not do certain things. His desire is to win people to a true belief in Christ and cause growth. He is willing to go to any length, within the boundaries of faith, to enter into the world of others that he might win them to faith. Notice Paul does not compromise, he simply is willing to take the leap of faith to go into places where Jesus would have gone to win some to Christ. Not allowing himself to compromise but keeping his heart and life pure but not limiting that sense of purity to the rigid interpretation by others.

Where has the Lord called you? If you have weakness in certain areas you need to stay away from those areas. If those you are trying to reach would be offended by something you are thinking about doing, don’t do it! Likewise, don’t be afraid to do things that those inside the church would find offensive as long as it does not break biblical mandate.

God loves all people. He wants to reach all people for the sake of the Gospel and some we may need to do things or go places where we are uncomfortable but where does light shine the brightest but in the darkest places. As long as we remember we are the light we will always bring blessing, love, and hope to people everywhere.

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