Reading: 1 Corinthians 9-10, Psalm 145
One of the great advantages of reading the Scriptures as the pace we have been is that it becomes obvious when things are being taken out of their contexts. There are an unfortunate number of people who believe that people in Christian ministry being paid for their work is not Biblical. The ninth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians makes this extremely hard to support. Individual sentences taken out of the context might suggest it, but the entire argument that Paul is putting forward- that he preaches the message of the gospel without payment- is founded on another argument that he really has to the right to be paid to do it! Paul is not saying that minsters of the gospel should not be given a livelihood, but that when one does it without one, it is an exceptional event.
Why does Paul bother going into this? As a counter-example for the Corinthians. As we saw in the first eight chapters of this letter, the Corinthians have been involved in libertine behavior in the realms of money, sex, and food. Paul has already given his opposing view to their libertine sexuality: each man should have his own wife, and each women her own husband. He is now giving his opposing view to their libertine views on money. He could demand the Corinthians pay for his livelihood while among them, but he will not, to demonstrate to them that they need not demand their rights. This is as important a message for our present world as for the ancient one. I hear far more concern today for the establishment of a person’s rights than I do for whether their actions are right. Paul has a similar problem with what the Corinthians are concerned about. They want to make sure they have the right to their own money, their own food, and whatever sexual activities they believe are fine. Paul says they need to reconsider their position around the effects of their actions on their brothers and sisters. Paul is willing to forego deserved payment in order to be a better witness. Surely the Corinthians are able to forego eating meat around certain people. Not to mention sleeping around.
As we move on, it becomes more and more obvious that this isn’t really about money, food, or sex, but about obedience. Paul draws a comparison with the ancient people of Israel, all of whom were brought through the Red Sea and given the laws of Moses, yet were not all obedient to God. Things did not go well for them. He warns the people of Corinth to not have temporal arrogance: they are no better than the ancient people of Israel. If they are disobedient, they can have no expectation of different results. And their current obsession with their own rights is leading to disobedience.
Instead of this unfortunate state, Paul recommends they start running towards Christ like an athlete training for a race. Get focused on the goal of being transformed into the image of Christ, and off the things you are now allowed to do. Stop worrying about what you have the right to do, and start worrying about how to become what you ought to be. Get out of your own head and heart, and get into the heart of God. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Paul understands that one of the great lessons of the life of Jesus is to get out of ourselves and give ourselves to the only judge and King who has the right and wisdom to tell us who are what we are.