(1Co 9:19) “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more… (21)  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.” Though Paul lived as reach those who were not Jews, he also did not participate in sinful practices in an effort to reach them. I ask you, “Does it make since to sin in order to reach a people you wish to save ‘from’ their sins?”

 (1Co 9:19) “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. (20)  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;”  When with the Jews Paul obeyed the various laws of conduct, eating, etc.. Why? Once offended they would not listen to the message He was sent to give. We give the gospel as not one who is superior, but as one who also once needed that same message.

(1Co 9:18) “What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. (19)  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”  The reward was a wisdom allowing Paul to see within his own heart. A pride was there he was afraid to feed (abuse). So, he made himself a servant to all to aid his fight against pride, seeking humility. The result was spiritual in every way, that for self and souls for the Lord’s glory.

(1Co 9:17) “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” Paul, as Saul, persecuted saved men and women. He was responsible for making them blaspheme (deny) Christ, and spoke against them sentencing some to die (Acts 26:10-11). When saved, he was “drafted” to give his life in the very ministry he once persecuted. His own heart gave him no other choice (v.16).

(1Co 9:16) “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”  There are two types of men who are called to preach. There are the Isaiahs, “Here am I send me” and the Moses, “O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.”. The latter normally resist because they do not feel worthy. Paul fit this: (1Co_15:9) “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

 (1Co 9:15) “But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.” Paul was not led to pen those things for his own sake, but so that they might realize he had not in any way profited, or to the minds of some – robbed them. He could have taken from them and it not been sin to do so, but he desired only one thing: to serve the Lord in a way of which sinful man could not condemn.

(1Co 9:13) “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? (14)  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” It is easy to expect others (the minister) to sacrifice: work a side job or make less than the others in your church. Has the Lord not said that whosoever would follow Him must take up their own cross? I have found that when God’s people tithe, there is enough to care for both the pastor and the church.

(1Co 9:12) “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”  How could taking from them hinder the gospel? If a person does not give as unto God freely of their heart, they will begrudge what they give. In my own church the persons I had trouble with were most always non-tithers. They did not give nearly as much as those who did tithe yet moaned over the spending of what was at that point God’s.

(1Co 9:12) “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”  Notice that this is not simply a “gift of giving” on the part of the congregation: “If others be partakers of this power [authority] over you,…” This thought has been built upon the previous verse, the spiritual is of such value that “… , is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”

(1Co 9:8) “Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? (9)  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? (10)  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (11(  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”  When God’s people put the spiritual before the physical, they cannot do enough for their pastor. On the other hand, when they see him as an hireling, working for them, they won’t do enough.