In the first part of this chapter, Paul established the rights of compensation that every teacher of the gospel is entitled to. But here he explains his reasons for not demanding those rights.
He wants to be able to say that he receives no compensation for his teaching, but not so that he will look superior to other teachers. In fact, he takes no credit for his teaching, because he was compelled by God to teach. (See Acts Chapter 9) He even implies that his life would be terrible if he did NOT preach about Jesus. (Indicated by the common Greek phrase which often translates to "woe is me" in verse 16.)
So if he is not preaching and making these sacrifices for personal recognition, why does he give up his rights as a teacher? He begins to answer this question in verses 18-19, but uses the rest of the chapter to illustrate. In a nutshell, he gives up his rights so that he can win more people to Christ. He doesn't want to risk offending people or giving the impression that he is greedy. He made whatever changes in his life he could to be accepted and welcomed in the communities where he taught.
Among Jews, Paul observed customs and rituals that he was no longer required to obey because of Christ's perfect payment of Paul's(and all believers') sins. Among pagans, Paul would have gone places and done things attached to pagan culture(though without violating Christ's commands). (v.21) Among "weak" Christians (as discussed in chapter 8), Paul would have avoided activity that would give the impression that sinning is okay.
He did all of this "for the sake of the gospel" and to "share in its blessings".(v.23) Paul knows that there is eternal reward attached to his service(remember 1st Corinthians 3:14?) and he knows he will be more effective in his work if he can connect to the people he's sharing the truth with. Paul recognizes the vital component of relationships when sharing the truth with others.
If we want a voice in someone's life, we should be willing to invest in that person's life. Maybe that means reading a book they recommend that is counter to biblical views. Maybe it means NOT wearing that cool, gory costume to the church Halloween party, or avoiding a few slang expressions around sensitive friends. The personal sacrifice will look a little different depending on who you are with.
In time, as we gain a voice to share truth in someone's life, we'll hopefully see change in them as a result and we will no longer have to sacrifice any rights around them. But like Paul, we can recognize the strategic and relational value of self-sacrifice as we invest in others.
Paul compares it to athletic competition. To win the prize, athletes have to be extremely self-disciplined. But ultimately, athletes compete for a prize that will fade with time.(v.24-25) Eternal life with God is a gift(Ephesians 2:8), not something we earn. But in addition to it, you and I can invest in lives around us. We can be used as tools to bring others closer to the truth, so that they can be used in the same way. A chain reaction with immeasurable effect! Like Paul, you and I can choose to live focused, purposeful lives in order to win an immensely fulfilling prize that will last forever! (v.26-27)
Next Week- Learning from yesterday and living in today... Coffee House Question As you consider the lives around you and who you have opportunity to invest in, what might be some of the freedoms and rights you can set aside around them to have a voice in their lives?
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