Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel – 1Corinthians 9

This sermon is from the series “The Church: God’s Dwelling Place.”

Last Sunday, we looked at 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul prohibits believers from eating food offered to idols for the sake of a weaker brother who may stumble in his faith due to lack of knowledge. In the same spirit, Paul continues his conversation in chapter 9, addressing another conflict in the church. He shares his personal decision on a particular matter to help avoid any conflict or misunderstanding from becoming a stumbling block to the Gospel.

When we carefully read the words of Paul, we see that he was addressing two conflicts the church had against him.

First, they had not accepted him as an Apostle as they did with the other 12 disciples of Jesus. Look with me at 1 Corinthians 9:1-2.

To understand this, we need to know the meaning of the word ‘Apostle’. An Apostle is someone sent to preach the Gospel and plant churches who saw Jesus and was directly appointed or commissioned by Jesus himself.

Mark 3:14 ESV: And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.

Perhaps the church was asking how Paul could claim to be an Apostle when he was not among the 12 who saw and walked with Jesus and were directly commissioned by Him.

Paul has a backstory that I assume the people either didn’t know or didn’t believe in.

Paul did meet Jesus on the road to Damascus and was directly commissioned by Jesus to preach the gospel and plant churches. Whether the people Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 9 2 believed him or not, he seemed pretty convinced. In defending himself, he also claimed that the proof of his apostleship appointed by Jesus was evident in the Lord’s excellent work in the people’s lives through his hard work and efforts.

The second issue with people was that they were constantly examining Paul. They may have concluded that he was working for personal gain or ulterior motives, preventing them from enjoying certain benefits that the other apostles were allowed to have.

1 Corinthians 9:3-6 ESV: This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

From verse 7 onwards, Paul provides reasons for them to believe they genuinely serve the Lord and the people.

1 Corinthians 9:7 ESV: Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

He is saying, look at the work we’ve done so far. We’ve done it at our expense. We did not take anything from you. We served you with a genuine heart.

In verses 8-14, Paul explains that even if they had to take a reward for their labor in the gospel, there was nothing wrong with it. God approves of it.

1 Corinthians 9:8-14 : Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 9 3 the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Now, what’s interesting is that knowing the conflict in people’s hearts, a division in their hearts that was becoming an obstacle to the gospel, Paul is expressing his decision to willingly surrender his rights to enjoy the fruit of his labor.

In other words, Paul is saying that because of the confusion in your heart, which is becoming an obstacle to the gospel, he is not making full use of his right in the gospel for the sake of the gospel.

Does that mean that Paul says a ministry worker shouldn’t enjoy the fruit of their labor? No.

In a different context, even Paul has taken support from the church to meet his needs. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:9.

2 Corinthians 11:9 ESV:
And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

In other words, Paul could also be saying that if there were no dissension among you regarding us enjoying the fruit of our labor, we wouldn’t mind taking a little support. However, because you have issues with that, which has also become an obstacle to the Gospel, I am refraining from accessing that right and privilege.

Kindly note this gesture is purely motivated by love, humility, and a desire to avoid causing others to stumble in their faith.

From verse 19 onwards, he explains the degree to which he is committed to serving the church in this manner.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27 ESV: For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by Surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 9 4 all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

He says, “I am here to serve, win souls for the kingdom, willing to adjust and become all things to all people, discipline my body to fulfill the duties given to me, and will practice what I preach.”

In light of this passage, I want us to spend some time thinking about what it would mean to lay down our rights for the advancement of the gospel in our hearts and the hearts of others.

Surrendering our rights means giving up our privileges, freedom, and entitlements, especially if they have become an obstacle to the gospel in your heart and the hearts of others.

Examples of surrendering our rights for the sake of the Gospel include:

1. Financial Support:
   • Example 1: A Christian worker or missionary might choose to support themselves through a secular job rather than receiving financial support from the church to avoid any potential criticism or accusations of greed. This is similar to what Paul did by working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3).
     
   • Example 2: A Christian worker or missionary might give up a secure job that provides growth and security to fully commit to the church’s service and mission, like the other disciples of Jesus.
2. Personal Freedoms:
   • Example: Someone might abstain from consuming alcohol in social settings to avoid causing a fellow believer who struggles with alcoholism to stumble. This aligns with Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 8:9, where he warns against using our freedom in a way that becomes a stumbling block to the weak.
3. Cultural Adaptation:
   • Example: A missionary might adopt the customs and dress of the culture they are ministering to build trust and effectively communicate the Gospel. Paul exemplified this by becoming “all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
4. Time and Resources:
   • Example: A person might give up their weekends or leisure time to serve in community outreach programs or church activities, prioritizing the needs of others over their comfort.
5. Dietary Choices:
   • Example: Choosing to refrain from eating certain foods when in the presence of those with dietary restrictions due to religious convictions or health reasons, as seen in Romans 14:21, where Paul talks about not eating meat or drinking wine if it causes a brother or sister to stumble
6. Forgoing Legal Rights:
   • Example: A Christian might choose not to pursue legal action against someone who has wronged them, opting instead for forgiveness and reconciliation to demonstrate Christ’s love and mercy, inspired by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:40-41 about turning the other cheek and going the extra mile.

Biblical Basis:

• In 1 Corinthians 9:12, Paul says, “We did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.”
• In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul exhorts believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death on the cross.

I know these tasks are complex, but let me remind you of someone who willingly laid down his rights to save us from death and eternal damnation, give us hope, and unite us with our heavenly father

Jesus, though He was divine and equal with God, chose to surrender His rights and privileges for our sake. He left the glory of heaven and took on human form, becoming a servant. He lived a humble and obedient life during His time on earth, ultimately submitting to death on the cross. This act of ultimate sacrifice was to save humanity from sin and eternal separation from God. By laying down His rights, Jesus provided a path to reconciliation with God, allowing us to experience a whole and abundant life on earth and in eternity. His life and sacrifice are the perfect examples of selflessness and love, inspiring us to live in a way that honors Him and serves others.

By doing so, he has also enabled us not just to receive mercy but also to show mercy, not just receive grace but also show grace to others, not just receive forgiveness but also forgive others, not just be served but also serve others as Christ did. Most importantly, he gave us the grace that enables us to surrender our rights for the gospel’s sake.