1 Corinthians 9

Paul talks a lot about how he, as an apostle, has the right to be fed by the Church. Is it a right? Do we have rights in God, or just things He allows us? Do servants have rights? But I'm not denying that the church should feed Paul, because I think that they should. And not even because he's the one who converted them all. Then Paul says he's too proud to take food from the church. Why? (and what is he eating?) Am I missing something here? Isn't pride a bad thing? Or is he just trying to help the churches by not giving them something else to do or seeming to demand his "rights"? (although he does spend quite a while proving his right to his rights, so maybe not). Because he says, "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" (v. 12b, RSV), and later that his reward for preaching the gospel is "that in my preaching I make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel" (v. 18).

A couple things really caught my eye. Paul says, "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (v. 16) When God asks us to do something, He's not really asking. As Christians who want to serve God, our duty is to do what He requires, every time. Secondly, the chapter ends with the famous race analogy: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, 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. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (v. 24-27). It really struck me today--when running a race, you can't just suddenly stop trying and still expect to win. Likewise, in my life as a Christian, I can't just suddenly stop trying and expect to be able to pick everything up again when I feel like trying again. Also, as Paul says, we need to exercise self-control to be able to keep running. I've been realizing more and more how important self-control really is.