1 Corinthians 9--Preaching For Pay

Paul explains to the Corinthian church that as a teacher and preacher of the Gospel, he is entitled to remuneration, as the saying goes: "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn" (1 Co 9:9).

However, Paul and his co-worker Barnabas, supported themselves with secular jobs and did not ask to be paid for preaching. Paul gives the following reasons for preaching without pay:

1. He was able to preach truth fully without compromise because he was not obligated to anyone for wages;

2. He was not preaching for a reward--the Lord had instilled in him such a desire to preach that he could not stop preaching;

3. Without having a salary, he would not be in a position to abuse his right to income; i.e., he would not be preaching just for the money;

4. Paul would be free to be a Jew with the Jews and a Gentile with the Gentiles and to change his style of preaching to fit his audience without anyone having a right to say anything about it ( 1Co 9: 20-22).

Paul also gave cautions to the Corinthians to keep their physical bodies under control, as an athlete in training, that they might serve the Lord better.

A believer might ask himself: Why don't I have the energy or enthusiasm necessary to complete the calling from God on my life? Am I too tired or too sick because I lack the discipline to eat, sleep, and exercise properly? Do I spend too much time pursuing recreation and indulging myself?

A believer who excuses himself from a service to the Lord because he has allowed himself to get in such a poor physical condition that he cannot do certain labor might consider confession and repentance (1 John 1:9).