What Could Be More Important Than My Rights?

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Adapted from a David Owens sermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?SermonID=123821

“Overcoming Obstacles That Obstruct Obedience”

Several years ago a Public Library had a service called“Dial-A-Tale.”

Anytime a young child wanted to hear a fairy tale, they could call the number and listen to a

pre-recorded reading of a short fairy tale.Unfortunately, however, the telephone number was only one digit different from the home of a

minister named Tom Erickson.

Because the children often made a mistake in dialing the number, Tom would get frequent

calls from a child looking for a fairy tale.After numerous unsuccessful attempts to

explain to the children that they had dialed a wrong number, Tom felt he had only one

alternative.He obtained a copy of Three Little Pigs, and

set it by the phone. So whenever a child calls, he simply reads them the tale.

I think this is a great illustration of yielding personal rights.

Tom Erickson had the right not to have to answer these calls.

He had the right to avoid the invasion of his privacy.

He had the right to change his telephone number.

But he willingly gave up those rights and ministered to the needs of children.

Today as we turn our attention to 1 Corinthians 9, we see the Apostle Paul had practiced this

same principle in his own life and ministry.To some, chapter 9 looks like the beginning of a long digression from the discussion of eating

meat sacrificed to idols in chapter 8, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Paul has not moved on from addressing the idol meat question; rather, he is just

approaching it from a different direction.

Paul’s indirect approach in chapter 9 is particularly crafty, because it allows him to “kill

two birds with one stone,” so to speak. It allows him to address his practice of

financial support, while at the same time address his larger argument about idol meat

and the requirements of love.Back in chapter 8, you will remember, Paul

called upon the “strong” at Corinth to limit their freedom for the sake of the “weak.”

In the last verse of that chapter, Paul pointed to himself as an example, saying that he would never eat meat again if it caused his brothers

and sisters to fall.

That statement launches Paul into a chapter long discussion of his rights as an apostle and

his willingness to give up those rights.

1 Corinthians 9:1 ESV Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who

would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 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?

Paul Defends His Rights

6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 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? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the

same? 9 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?

10 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. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12

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.

13 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? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those

who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

For whatever reasons, Paul’s authority as an apostle was in question at Corinth.

So Paul began with an assertion of his identity as an apostle.

He had, in fact, seen the risen Lord.

And he had, in fact, started the church in Corinth.

Then Paul listed some of his rights as an apostle with a series of rhetorical questions.

Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Yes.Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife

along with us?Yes.

Don’t we have the right not to work for a living, but to be supported?

Yes.

Next Paul offers the arguments in support of God’s workers being paid.

He says, “Look at the soldier - You wouldn’t expect him to serve at his own expense.”

We wouldn’t expect the soldiers fighting the war in Middle East to pay their own plane

ticket to get to the battle ground, pay for their own accommodations and food while they are

there, etc.Clearly a person representing their country in a war has every right to expect their country will pay them for their service and cover their

expenses.

He says, “Look at the farmer - You wouldn’t expect the worker in the vineyard not to eat

some of the grapes.”

“Look at the shepherd – you wouldn’t expect the shepherd not to drink some of the milk.”

Paul doesn’t end his argument with just human reasoning and rationale, rather he adds the

biblical evidence for his conclusion.

He says, “Look at the Law of Moses.”

Deuteronomy 25:4 ESV “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.

Then Paul asks is it really about oxen that God is concerned – not really, he says this for us

and our sake.

Paul’s final illustration for the argument of the right of financial support for God’s workers is

the temple priests.

Don’t those who work at the temple (ie., the priests) get their food from the temple?

After something has been offered on the altar, don’t they get to eat some of it?

Yes, of course.

Paul’s summary statement is verse 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those

who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

So having clarified his rights as an apostle, Paul moves to his surprising example.

12 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. 13 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? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the

gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Paul Gives Up His Rights

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure

any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 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! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Three times Paul maintains although he has these rights, he voluntarily does not make use

of them. 12 …we have not made use of this right.

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights.

18 …so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Why in the world did Paul give up his rights?

That’s un-American, isn’t it?

Doesn’t Paul know that if he doesn’t look out for himself, nobody else will?

Paul certainly didn’t have the attitude that many people have – “I’m going to get what is

mine.”

No, Paul gave up his rights for the sake of the Gospel.

12b,c …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.

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of

them.23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I

may share with them in its blessings.

Writing to the Philippians several years later, Paul told them Jesus did the very same thing –

He gave up His rights for the sake of others.Praise God He did!

Philippians 2:5 ESV Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made myself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of

death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him

the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of

them. 20 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. 21 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.

Paul Lives Without His Rights

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 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. 25 Every athlete exercises

self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching

to others I myself should be disqualified.

Paul wanted to “win as many as possible” more than he wanted to exercise his rights.

Therefore, to the Jews he became like a Jew, to win the Jews.

To those under the law he became like one under the law, to win those under the law.

To those not having the law he became like one not having the law, so as to win those not

having the law.

To the weak he became weak, to win the weak.

Bingo…there’s his main point.To the “strong” who wanted to demand their rights and exercise their freedoms, and who cared little about the “weak” and their hang-

ups, Paul said, “You’ve got it all wrong.”For the sake of the gospel and the salvation of

others, we have to be willing to become all things to all men.

That is not only true in an evangelistic sense (which isn’t Paul’s primary focus here), it is

true in the ongoing salvation and sanctification of the church.

What good does it do to demand our rights and destroy our brother or sister in the

process?

What is required to put all this into practice is discipline.

Paul turns to an illustration that was so familiar to the Corinthians.

The Isthmian Games, much like our Olympic Games, were held at Corinth every two years.

Those who competed in those games went into strict training.

The crown that they were awarded for victory was truly perishable.

The victory wreath at the Isthmian Games was made of withered celery – can you imagine?

So Paul’s point hits hard – “If these athletes push themselves to the limit in training to win that pathetic crown of withered vegetables, how much more should we maintain self-discipline for the sake of an imperishable

crown?”

What lessons can we take with us today to put into practice?

Let me offer three applications.

First, We learn that we should be willing to SACRIFICE.

Christian maturity consists not only of knowing your rights and freedoms, but of being willing

to give them up for others.

Conclusion

Charles Swindoll gives a good illustration of this when he describes a baseball team

playing a very important game.

It has the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning.

It is trailing by one run.

One of the strongest batters comes to the plate.

He looks down at the third-base coach and sees the sign to bunt.

“Bunt,” he thinks to himself, “I’m the best hitter on this team.

I’m leading the team in hits.I’m going to hit away.

No one is going to tell me to bunt.I have a right to swing hard for the bleachers.Just think what a grand-slam home run would

do for my reputation.”That baseball player was only thinking about himself – his rights – what would make him

look best.He wasn’t thinking about the team and what is

best for the team.

The same kind of selfish attitude can befall Christians or the church as a whole.

“I have the right to have my favorite pew.” “I have the right to have my favorite teacher or

preacher.”“I have the right to have us sing my favorite

songs – all the old ones or all the new ones.”“I have the right for the service to be shorter or

longer.”“I have the right for people to adopt my ideas.”

I offer these as just examples of possible selfish thoughts and attitudes we might

encounter.

Are we willing to sacrifice for the good of others and the church as a whole, or will we

demand our rights and freedoms?

True Christian freedom is exercised in sacrifice and service.

Christians who insist on exercising their right to do whatever they like have become captive

of their own rights.

If and when we find ourselves campaigning on the platform of defending our own rights, then

we have lost sight of the gospel.

The Christian life is all about focus, self-control and training.

We cannot expect to grow spiritually without putting forth a concentrated effort.

Certainly, I’m not trying to downplay the role of the Holy Spirit in the maturing process.

Paul told the Philippians

Philippians 2:12 ESV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only

as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear

and trembling, 13 For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good

pleasure.

In this passage we see something of the cooperation required between us and God in

accomplishing His good purpose.

Paul uses the Isthmian Games and we can use the up-coming summer Olympics to illustrate the kind of discipline required.

Paul says,

25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable

wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the

air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I

myself should be disqualified.

There’s no way an Olympic athlete could show up to the marathon run or the 200-meter swim

over weight and out of shape and expect to compete or even finish the race.

No, serious preparation and on-going discipline is required.

Paul describes knowing the course, knowing the opponent, and how he harshly disciplined

himself physically.

We must know the same – we must know the rules and the course God wants us to take, we must know the enemy we are battling against,

and then we must discipline our body, mind and soul.

It is hard to overemphasize the importance of our brothers and sisters in God’s family, times of worship and study, and private discipline of

prayer, Scripture, study and service.All these things make us ready and fit for the

contest.

Finally, We learn to keep our eyes on the PRIZE.

The prize that we must keep in clear focus is the heavenly reward of our eternal relationship

with God.Unfortunately, our heavenly prize is unseen and is intangible, yet it is the thing we must

keep clearly in focus.Paul appropriately described the challenge of straining toward the heavenly prize when he

wrote,

2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing

for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things

that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but

the things that are unseen are eternal.

How beautiful is God’s creation, and how breath-taking to view it from on top of a

mountain?

One of the interesting challenges we face is that of focusing on the goal before us

even though we cannot see it.

The top of the mountain is usually not visible from the path or road at bottom of

the mountain.

And as you climb, you sometimes catch a glimpse of a peak, but it is usually what is called a false peak – a small peak on the

way to the main peak.

So throughout the day you navigate the ups, downs & switch backs of the trail or road up the mountain, you do so with the

invisible prize in your mind.

We know the prize is there and if we just keep climbing and don’t give up we will

make it, and it will be well worth the effort.

The same is true with the Christian life and the heavenly prize. We can’t see it from

here, but we know it is there and we know it will be worth it.

We want to run in such a way as to win the prize and not be disqualified for the prize.

To do so will require sacrifices for the sake of our brothers and sisters.

To do so will require discipline.And to do so will require a concentration on

our heavenly goal.May God have mercy and give us the strength

and help we need to finish the race and win the prize.