1 Corinthians 9:1-14

 1 Corinthians 9:1-14

The entire chapter is about compensation for apostles and sets the example for ministers in general. There are two extremes that occur in ministry compensation that hinder the gospel spreading. First, there is the over pay of the religious professional. It is true in every age, from the ancient world to today, there are some who see ‘religious work’ as a path to wealth. In some cases, this is a copious amount of money; in other cases, it is the ability to make money without much effort. The lazy preacher and the religious charlatan are in the same category.

On the other hand, a second misstep in the ministry is if the minister is not paid at all or inadequately; this is another way, the Gospel is hindered. The necessity of income for daily living keeps the minister from being about the work of the Gospel. It can also lead to a level of emotional and spiritual frustration that is harmful for the minister and can even produce a perverse pride in poverty. Paul listed several arguments why a minister ought to be compensated for his Gospel work in verses 1-14. Rather than address this individually, let's look at some general ethics that are evident. 

The first principle or ethic is to pursue a standard of excellence. In too many cases, churches and workers settle to the level of what might be called ‘the least.’ For a church, the question is often, “What is the least we can pay and still get a minister?” For ministers, the question sometimes devolves to “What is the least I can do and still get a paycheck?” This is much more than an issue of a selfish church or a lazy preacher; it reflects a serious fault or defect in the heart. There should never be an occasion in which anyone in the Kingdom says, “What is the least I can do and get by?”

A second ethic we see is that of respect for the dignity of the minister within the church. There is a general tendency of people everywhere and at all times to look down on what is called “blue-collar” workers. This was especially true in Corinth. Paul would have had numerous critics because he was a laborer and not a professional. We do not grant respect and recognize dignity because of merit of title, learning, or position. We value a person because they are created in God’s image, and we compensate them based on their work. Churches have often used compensation as a tool by which they can control their minister. Making him not so much a servant of Christ as a chaplain for the local congregation. Such churches rarely grow or have much kingdom impact. But those churches that strive for excellence in every way and respect the dignity and worth of each other will find they are attractive to the watching world. 

“Lord, grant that all Your people will always be deeply committed to doing their best. AMEN”