(1Co 9:7) “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?”  One cannot truly divide one’s time, lest one of those things suffer. The flock needs full attention for feeding, healing, watering, guarding, directing. It is also true of the church of God, the sheep the Under-shepherd is called to watch over (Acts 20:28).

(1Co 9:4) “Have we not power to eat and to drink? (5)  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (6)  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?”  From the beginning certain honors were shown unto God’s ministers. These men represented the Lord, ministering not to the flesh, but to the souls and spirits of others. Remember: the spiritual always comes before the physical.

(1Co 9:3) “Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, (4)  Have we not power to eat and to drink?”  Paul’s authority over the church is being challenged. Defense? His defense will be…..the practice of others of like position based upon (here is our only source of authority) the Word of God (v.8-10)!

(1Co 9:1) “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? (2)  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.” One of the most rewarding things of leading another to Christ is the love they feel for you afterwards. The Lord alone does the saving, yet we find they love us for our role in their salvation. I pray each saved soul gets to experience this by leading some precious soul to our Lord.

 (1Co 8:13) “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”  Holy Spirit empowered loving puts others before self – especially their soul’s need. It should go without saying that this indeed speaks of loving everyone; but shouldn’t it be seen as a daily practice at home?

 (1Co 8:12) “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.” The action itself was not sin (v.4-6,8) but in the doing of it someone that knew you was led astray; that….was sin. The whole of the Epistles teach us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Their soul is more important that our belly.

(1Co 8:11) “And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?”  “Brother”, here, is in the sense the Lord Jesus used it – any of humanity. We should care about how our behavior affects the lost. You never know who is watching, what is in their heart, whether or not the Lord has been speaking to their soul. You are an “ambassador” (2 Cor 5:20), whether you like it or not.

WATER   (1Co 8:10) “For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;”  Our activities influence others, for they cannot see our hearts, only our outward actions. There are places a believer has no business being.

(1Co 8:8) “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. (9)  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”  “Weak”: those who do not know that those idols are not gods. We are not to give reverence to them in any way. Did you know that the Lord is offended by those images? (Deu_7:25) “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.” Do you have any such images, pictures, around your house?

(Co 8:8) “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”  To this very day there are those who think themselves more holy and pleasing because they abstain from certain foods. In “all things” it is the heart first that the Lord is viewing. Are we keeping His Word as ascribed in the Epistles for non-Jews?